Records: Kennesaw State (2-1), Western Michigan (0-3)
Score: Kennesaw State 7, Western Michigan 4
Starting Pitching Matchup:  LHP Tanner Allison (0-1) vs. RHP AJ Moore (1-0)
Key Players: Chris Erwin (1-for-4, 3 RBI); Austin Upshaw (3-for-3, 2 RBI); AJ Moore (Win, 5.0 IP, 4K)

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

KENNESAW, Ga. –  The Kennesaw State baseball team sprayed 11 hits and used a strong pitching performance from AJ Moore to take down the Broncos out of Western Michigan on day three of the Atlanta Classic, 7-4, at Stillwell Stadium on Sunday (Feb. 21) afternoon.
 
Sophomore Austin Upshaw's hot bat stayed carried over to Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. He finished the three days batting .583 with a slugging percentage of 1.333, going 7-for-12 at the dish with six hits –including three home runs— and totaled a .583 on-base percentage.
 
The Owls also got key contributions at the plate Chris Erwin (1-for-4, three RBI), Brennan Morgan (1-for-2, HR) and LaDonis Bryant (2-for-4, two runs) on the day.
 
The Owls wasted no time jumping on the right field scoreboard, placing a crooked three runs on five hits in the first frame. KSU totaled three extra base hits, including a triple from Grant Williams, double from Howell and a home run from Morgan in the inning as the Owls hit for the cycle in the first to jump out 3-0 over the Broncos.
 
After Western Michigan cut the lead to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third, Kennesaw State responded with three in the bottom half of the fourth to extend its lead to four.
 
In the frame, Erwin –who had an RBI sacrifice fly ball in the first—hit a base-clearing double for two runs off the center field wall to push the Owls' lead to 5-2. Upshaw, who entered the day 4-for-9 with two home runs and two RBI through the first two days of action, sacrificed his at bat and brought home Erwin on a squeeze bunt, grabbing a 6-2 edge after four.
 
Meanwhile, Moore (1-0) earned the win, going 5.0 strong innings allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned), while striking out four batters. Moore threw 73 pitches and over 65 percent of his pitches for strikes in the victory.
 
The Owls also got a strong debut from Will Bice, who tossed 3.0 innings allowing one hit, one run and two strikeouts. Erich Stahl also made his second straight appearance out of the bullpen, getting out of a late ninth inning jam to secure the victory.
 
Up Next
The Owls will hit the road for a midweek date against SEC opponent Auburn on SEC Network Plus on Tuesday (Feb. 23) evening. Nathan McCreary will also be on-air bringing you play-by-play on KSU All-Access.
 
Weekend Wrap-Up Video

 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Mike Sansing
 
Notes
- This marked the first meeting between Western Michigan and Kennesaw State in programs' history.
- The Owls last took on a team from the MAC in 2011, sweeping Ball State in a three-game series.
- Kennesaw State outscore Ball State 30-18 in that series.
- KSU outhit its opponent on the day, marking the second game over the three-game weekend the Owls outhit their opponent.
- KSU sprayed a total of 34 hits over the weekend, outscoring its opponents 27-21 over the weekend, going 2-1 against VCU, Purdue and Western Michigan in the Atlanta Classic.
- Upshaw and Howell now lead the team with four RBI.
- Austin Upshaw leads the Owls with seven hits over the three games, and has totaled a team-high 16 bases.
- As a team, the Owls batted .330 over the three games, totaling 14 extra base hits and 22 RBI.
 
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