Records: Kennesaw State (6-3), UAB (4-4)
Score: Kennesaw State 10, UAB 6
Starting Pitching Matchup: LHP Ryan Ruggles vs. LHP Chris Erwin
Key Players:  Grant Williams (3-for-5); Alex Liquori (1-for-4, two RBI); LaDonis Bryant (2-for-3, two RBI); Richard Lovelady (win)

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Kennesaw State Owls baseball team placed four crucial runs in the top of the ninth to help defeat host UAB at Regions Field, 10-6, in its non-conference series opener on Friday (March 4) evening.
 
The Owls (6-3) scored 10 runs on eight hits as sophomore Grant Williams (3-for-5), Alex Liquori (1-for-4, two RBI) and LaDonis Bryant (2-for-3, two RBI) lead things offensively for Kennesaw State. The three combined for six of the Owls' hits and four RBI.
 
Knotted at 6-6 heading into the final frame, the Owls (6-3) saw nine players step to the plate and totaled three hits in the inning to take a four-run edge into the Hatters' final at-bats Friday night.
 
The Owls opened the frame with back-to-back walks before Williams bunted for a single to load the bases with one out. Liquori, a Brooks, Georgia native, tallied his third double in the ninth, bringing home two before Jake Franklin, who made his fifth start of the season, singled to center two plate two more for the decisive 10-6 edge.
 
Chris Erwin, who made his third straight Friday night start under head coach Mike Sansing, tossed 5.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and five hits, while striking out two Blazers. Erwin shut out UAB until the sixth inning, tossing five consecutive scoreless frames to allow the Owls jump out to a 6-0 lead.
 
Richard Lovelady picked up the win on the bump, tossing the eighth inning while Erich Stahl closed the door in a scoreless ninth to pick up KSU's sixth win in nine games.
 
Up Next
The Owls will return to action this weekend, trekking to Birmingham, Alabama for three-game series against UAB on March 4-6. The Owls took 2-of-3 from the Blazers at Stillwell Stadium in 2015.
 
Sansing Quote
"I am proud of our players and their continued efforts to battle nine innings. Alex Liquori and Jake Franklin had big hits, but many of our guys had quality at-bats in that ninth innings.:
-Head Coach Mike Sansing-
 
Notes
- The Owls scored the first run of the ballgame, marking the fifth time in nine games they have done so.
- Alex Liquori tallied another hit this season in the series opener, giving him a hit in six of the nine games for the Owls.
- The meeting marked the 17^th time the two teams have played each other, and the first time the Owls played at Regions Field.
- Grant Williams recorded a hit for the fourth different game this season, and made his seventh start of the season in the series opener.
- LaDonis Bryant made his fifth start of the season in left field for the Owls in the series finale against UAB.
- Richard Lovelady picked up the win on the mound for the second straight game.
- Grant Williams (3-for-5), Alex Liquori (1-for-4, two RBI) and LaDonis Bryant (2-for-3, two RBI) – combining for six of the Owls' eight hits.
- Brock Turner and Logan Hutchinson made appearances out of the bullpen for the Owls.
- For the second time this season, the Owls scored at least runs in a ballgame, winning both. 

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