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Kennesaw, Ga. –  The Kennesaw State baseball team lost to UAB on Sunday (March 8) afternoon in the series finale at Stillwell Stadium, 8-5. In a game that was played in just over two and a half hours, a pitching duel throughout the early junctures of the game set the stage for late-inning suspense in the third and final game of the weekend series.  
 
For the second consecutive game both teams struggled to produce much offense through the first six innings, as the Owls' (8-5) Gabe Friese and the Blazers' (9-4) Johnny Lieske were both strong on the hill for their respective teams.
 
Friese, who entered the game with a 1.80 ERA and a 2-1 record, was once again resilient in his outing. The Kennesaw, Georgia native went 7.2 strong innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out five UAB batters. Friese was strong right from the beginning, retiring the side in four different innings. The Kennesaw native also retired the first seven UAB batters he faced in the game.
 
On the other side, UAB countered with Lieske, whose no-hit bid went into the seventh inning of the game. Both pitchers earned a no decision after the two teams combined for 10 runs and 12 hits over the final two innings in a back-and-forth battle with the game on the line.
 
Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom half of the eighth inning, the Owls rallied with four runs on four hits to grab a 5-3 lead. Kennesaw State's first three batters –Jeremy Howell walked, Griffin Helms singled and Cornell Nixon singled—reached base to set the stage for junior Kal Simmons. The switch-hitter's RBI single pulled the Owls within 3-2, and kept the bases loaded for red-hot Chris Erwin.
 
Erwin –who entered the game batting .378 (14-for-37)—, and finished the weekend with an impressive 6-for-12 (.500) at the plate with two runs scored and six RBI, doubled to deep left field, clearing the bases to give the Owls a two-run advantage.
 
However, the UAB potent offense came through when it counted. Down to their final three outs, the Blazers scored five runs in the top half of the ninth inning to secure the victory.
 
Six different KSU batters recorded at least one hit on the day, led by Erwin's 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Junior Brennan Morgan and Simmons recorded an RBI on the day, as Griffin Helms –who made his collegiate debut behind home plate—finished the day 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Even with the loss, the Owls still took the three-game weekend series against the Blazers. Defeating UAB by an 8-4 score on Friday before taking a 6-4 decision Saturday to secure the series.
 
The Owls will be back in action Wednesday, March 11, traveling to Georgia State in midweek action. Kennesaw State will then travel to Rock Hill, North Carolina to take on Winthrop in nonconference action over the weekend.
 
Season tickets are currently on sale for the full 29-game home schedule at $39 per ticket. Single-game tickets are also available at $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-12). Group tickets for 10 or more people are available for advanced purchase, excluding the Georgia (Feb. 17), Georgia Tech (Mar. 17) and Georgia Southern (Mar. 24) games when individual tickets will be $10 for adults and $6 for youth. To order season tickets click here, or contact the KSU Athletic Ticket Office at 470-578-OWLS (6957).
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.