Box Score (XML) | Box Score (.PDF)
 
Kennesaw, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball team dropped its midweek clash against crosstown rival Georgia State University, 7-4, on Wednesday (May 6) evening at Stillwell Stadium. The Owls could not overcome a pair of three-run innings from the Panthers while getting out-hit 12-8 in the game.

The Owls (25-22) were paced offensively from Kal Simmons (2-for-4), Brennan Morgan (1-for-3, one RBI), Taylor Allum (1-for-3, one RBI) and Alex Liquori (1-for-4, one RBI) as the four players combined for five of KSU's eight hits in the game.

"We wanted to minimize the innings and we didn't threaten offensively," head coach Mike Sansing said. "We had trouble getting things going at the plate tonight."

Kennesaw State's sophomore Chris Erwin (4-4) was called to start on the mound, as he was charged with a hard-fought loss on the evening. The lefthander allowed three runs and eight hits over four innings of work on the mound and struck out four in the outing.

On the other side of the mound, Georgia State used a combined six pitchers to limit the potent KSU offense to just eight hits and four runs. Garrett Ford (1-1) earned his first win of the season, coming out of the bullpen. Ford went 3.1 innings on the mound, allowing one hit and no runs in his outing.

The Owls were able to score the game's first run in the bottom half of the second inning, coming off the bat of Liquori. Kennesaw State got things going with a one-out single from senior Colin Bennett before being knocked home from the Brooks, Georgia native with two outs to claim an early 1-0 lead.

For Liquori, the RBI single in the second inning totaled his 11th RBI over his last eight games. Over the stretch, the junior outfielder is batting .429 with 12 hits and a .429 slugging percentage.

"It's encouraging to see Alex [Liquori] swing the bat well. We need him to be aggressive going into the conference tournament and we need to generate some more offense," Sansing said.

The Panthers answered with seven runs over the next five innings to take their largest lead in the game and never looked back.

Georgia State got things going with a three-run four inning, scattering four hits while bringing nine to the plate to take a 3-1 lead. The Panthers continued to be aggressive at the plate and extended their lead to 4-1 off a solo home run from Matt Rose.

Trailing by three, the Owls fought back with a run in the bottom of the sixth. KSU got things going with a leadoff double from Simmons –which was his seventh double this season. After a defensive miscue from Georgia State, the Owls were able to plate their second run of the game with a sacrifice fly ball off the bat of Morgan.

GSU, leading 4-2, pushed across three more runs in the eighth to extend its lead to 7-2, which proved to be enough as the Owls scored two runs in their final at-bats, but could not overcome the five-run deficit.
 
 "The guys battled throughout the night. I thought we gave a good effort in the ninth to push across a couple of runs. But in the end we didn't give ourselves enough chances offensively and that was the key," Sansing said.

Kennesaw State will finish its regular season home slate at Stillwell Stadium this weekend, playing host to Atlantic Sun Conference foe Jacksonville in a three-game set. Friday's opener is scheduled to begin at 6 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).

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.