THE BASICSRecords: Kennesaw State (7-11), Mercer (10-8)
Score: Kennesaw State 7, Mercer 10
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Ryan Askew vs. LHP Chris Erwin Key Players: Jeremy Howell (2-for-4, 2 RBI);
Alex Liquori (2-for-5, 3 RBI);
Corey Greeson (2-for-5)
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THE STORYLINE: · Mercer produced four runs in the top of the eighth inning, propelling the Bears past Kennesaw State Friday evening, 10-7, at Stillwell Stadium in the series opener.
· The clubs went back and forth throughout the night, lighting up the scoreboard with a combined 17 runs on 24 hits.
· The two teams produced five lead changes and two ties as a crowd of 701 saw the largest lead grow to just three runs.
· The loss dropped the Owls to 7-11 overall, while the Bears improved 10-8 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED: · The Bears produced runs in six of the nine innings, including a key four-run eighth frame coming off a grand slam from Kyle Lewis.
· Kennesaw State managed two three-run innings in the bottom of the first and sixth.
· Jeremy Howell hit his team-leading sixth double of the season, plating two in the first.
- Senior
Brennan Morgan followed with an RBI single to grab an early 3-2 advantage.
· Alex Liquori, senior from Brooks, Ga., hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth, a three-run homer to give KSU a 7-5 edge.
· Mercer's Ryan Hagan and Kyle Lewis combined to go 5-for-8 with seven RBI and seven runs scored in the ballgame.
· In all, the Owls used six pitchers over the night as
Chris Erwin (no decision) tossed a season-high 6.1 inning.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: · Taylor Allum made his season debut, going 1-for-4 at the plate.
· The Owls totaled 11 hits in the game, marking the 12
th time this season KSU has compiled 10 or more hits in a game.
· Jeremy Howell and
Alex Liquori combined for five of the Owls' seven RBI, going 4-for-9 with four runs scored in the ballgame.
UP NEXT The Owls return to action Saturday afternoon for game two of the weekend series against Mercer. KSU and the Bears will begin the action at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 with
Nathan McCreary and Kaleb Frady on the call.
