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DELAND, Fla. – The Kennesaw State baseball team managed just one run on eight hits Thursday (April 2) evening, dropping the Atlantic Sun weekend series opener to Stetson University 6-1 at Melching Field. The Owls fell to 2-2 in league play and 15-14 overall on the season. The Hatters, meanwhile, improved to 1-0 in A-Sun play and 16-15 overall.

Kennesaw State's Jordan Hillyer was tabbed as the tough-luck loser in a game that was close throughout the majority of the contest. The right-hander surrendered three earned runs over 6.0 innings pitched, scattering nine hits while striking out three in the outing.

On the other side of the mound was Stetson's Brooks Wilson, who went 6.2 innings allowing five hits and one run. Wilson, who entered the game with a 6-2 record, struck out seven Owls in the game to help secure his seventh win of the season.

Kennesaw State got off to a strong start, recording four of its eight hits in the first two innings of play. The Owls, who entered the game outscoring their opponents 14-8 in the first inning, wasted no time and scored the game's first run of the ballgame.

Brennan Morgan totaled his 16th RBI of the season with a two-out RBI double down the right field line, scoring Corey Greeson –who led off the inning with a walk—from second base to give the Owls an early 1-0 lead.

Chris McGowan also recorded a single later in the frame, extending his hitting streak to nine games. The senior is batting .364 (12-for-33) with six doubles, one homer and three RBI during the stretch. In fact, McGowan has bumped his batting average up 68 points after hitting .185 (10-for-54) in his first 16 games.

The Hatters, however, controlled the remainder of the game, winning their A-Sun opener of the season. Stetson scored one run in five different innings and placed the only crooked number on the scoreboard with a two-run seventh—which was part of a four-inning stretch of plating at least one run.

Stetson's bullpen backed Wilson's performance, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. The Hatters' pen allowed three hits and no runs as the Owls left a total of 12 batters on base throughout the game.

Grant Williams (2-for-4) and Greeson (2-for-4) paced KSU's lineup in the game. Six different batters recorded at least one hit in the game. Williams, like McGowan, also extended his hitting streak to nine games. The freshman, in all, is batting .363 with 29 hits –two doubles—and 13 RBI on the
season.

Kennesaw State will return to Melching Field Friday (April 2) evening to take on the Hatters in game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

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).
 
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