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NASHVILLE, TENN. – The Kennesaw State baseball team evened the Atlantic Sun Conference weekend series Saturday (April 25) afternoon, defeating Lipscomb University 4-3 at Ken Dugan Field. Travis Bergen's strong performance on the mound and Alex Liquori's bat led the Owls past the Bisons for the first time in a regular-season game since 2012, snapping a nine game skid.

With the win, Kennesaw State improved to 23-20 overall and 7-6 in the A-Sun, while Lipscomb slipped to 26-14 overall and 6-5 in conference action.  

"I thought both teams played extremely well. It was an extremely competitive game just like last night," head coach Mike Sansing said. "Fortunately we were able to come out on top today."

The Owls knocked 10 hits at the plate, as Corey Greeson (2-for-4), Taylor Allum (2-for-3) and Liquori (3-for-4, two RBI) combined for seven of KSU's 10 hits to back Bergen's resilient effort in his 11th start of the season.

Bergen (5-3) was strong for KSU on the mound once again, allowing two runs on just five hits over 8.0 innings. The lefthander struck out six Bisons and issued three walks on the mound to earn the decision. It marked the third straight outing Bergen has gone at least eight innings for the Owls.

"Travis [Bergen] controlled the game for us and kept us right there to allow us some opportunities," Sansing said. "We took advantage of that and came out with a big win."

Like last night, Lipscomb scored the game's first run of the ballgame when Mike Korte recorded an RBI single through the left side of the infield to give the Bisons a 1-0 edge.

That lead remained true until the fifth inning, as Lipscomb's starting pitcher Jeffrey Passantino held KSU to just three hits throughout the first four innings of play. But the Owls' potent offense, which entered the weekend averaging just under six runs per game, took their first lead of the series placing a crooked three runs on the right field scoreboard.

Kennesaw State brought eight to the dish, scattering four hits –including two infield singles and a double to go along with a pair of sacrifice bunts—for the largest scoring inning over the course of the two games. In the frame, Liquori and freshman teammate Grant Williams recorded an RBI each while a defensive miscue helped give KSU its first lead of the series at 3-1.

"Liquori had another good game today and it's nice to see him put together some good at bats," Sansing said.

That lead proved to be enough as Bergen remained persistent of the strike zone, throwing 84 of his 129 pitches for strikes. After allowing an early run in the second frame, Bergen tossed four consecutive scoreless innings to keep the Bisons at one run. Over the time, Bergen allowed just one hit and retired 12 of 13 Bison batters to keep the home team quiet at the plate.

The two clubs exchanged runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but Will Lowman earned his fifth save of the season to close out the contest.
Kennesaw State and Lipscomb will conclude its series Sunday afternoon, wrapping up a three-game A-Sun set. The rubber match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CST/2 p.m. ET.

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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