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Kennesaw, Ga. –  Despite out-hitting Jacksonville University 17-13 on the day, the Kennesaw State baseball team could not overcome four errors and a seven-run deficit early on in the rubber game to the Dolphins at Stillwell Stadium, dropping the series finale by a 12-8 final score.

For just the fourth time this season, the Owls (26-24, 9-8) recorded at least 17 hits in a game. On the other side of the plate, Jacksonville (23-28, 9-9) scattered 13 hits in the win to secure a spot in the A-Sun Tournament on May 20-24 in Fort Myers, Florida.

Eight of the Owls' nine starters in the lineup recorded at least one hit, as Kal Simmons (3-for-5), Chris Erwin (3-for-5, one RBI), Chris McGowan (3-for-5, two RBI) Taylor Allum (3-for-4,) and Grant Williams 2-for-5, two RBI) paced the offensive attack at the plate.

Defensive miscues throughout the early stages of the game put the Owls down 7-0 before the bottom of the second frame. Jacksonville quickly jumped on the scoreboard with a four-run first, and a three-run second to take a 7-0 lead. The Dolphins took advantage of three defensive errors, plating five unearned runs.

Kennesaw State's Gabe Friese (4-5) was tabbed with the hard-fought loss, allowing eight runs (three earned) on eight hits over 2.1 innings of work. The righthander struck out one batter and walked two in the tough-luck loss.

KSU, though, clawed its way back scoring five runs over the following three innings. The Owls scored one in the second, two in the third and two more runs in the fourth to pull within 8-5. The stretch was highlighted by Williams' two-out, two-run home run over the right field wall. It marked the first collegiate home run for Williams and fifth extra base hit of the season.

Trailing by three heading to the sixth, Jacksonville again answered with three runs of its own to take an 11-5 lead.

KSU again answered back, clawing back into the game with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth frame. Williams, who hit a home run in the fourth, led off the inning with a walk and eventually scored on an RBI single off the bat of Erwin to cut the lead within 11-6.

The Owls continued to be aggressive at the plate in the inning, as McGowan followed with an RBI single to push Simmons –who singled earlier in the frame—across home plate, cutting the lead to 11-7.

Kennesaw State, trailing by four, got key scoreless innings out of relievers Jordan Versteeg and Benjamin Bancroft in the seventh and eighth to keep the game at 11-7. That allowed the Owls to get within three at 11-8 with another run in the bottom of the eighth.

KSU got things going when Erwin doubled down the left field line and scored when McGowan followed with his second RBI of the game.

It was the closest KSU got all game, as Jacksonville plated an insurance run in the ninth and shut the door over the final three outs of the game.

KSU's regular-season home slate came to a close Sunday (May 10) afternoon, finishing with a 15-13 mark in front of the Owl faithful. It marked the fifth straight season Kennesaw State finished with a winning record at Stillwell Stadium under head coach Mike Sansing.

Kennesaw State will conclude its regular season with four road games next week. The Owls will take on Georgia Southern in their final non-conference matchup of the 2015 season on Tuesday, May 12 before trekking to North Florida for a key three-game series with the Ospreys on May 14-16.

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.