Records: Kennesaw State (6-4), UAB (5-6)
Score: Kennesaw State 3, UAB 4
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Tanner Graham vs. RHP Gabe Friese
Key Players: Grant Williams (1-for-5, RBI); Jeremy Howell (1-for-2, RBI); Austin Upshaw (1-for-4); Justin Motley (1-for-1); David Chabut (1-for-3); LaDonis Bryant (1-for-1)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Kennesaw State Owls dropped a 4-3 contest to the Blazers of UAB on Saturday (March 5) afternoon at Regions Field, and will have a rubber game on Sunday afternoon with the non-conference series at stake.
 
The Owls (6-4) totaled seven hits and three runs on the day, as seven different players recorded hits on the day. KSU got key contributions at the plate from Grant Williams (1-for-5, RBI) and Jeremy Howell (1-for-2, RBI) for the day – totaling the two RBI for the Owls.
 
Gabe Friese (1-1), the right handed pitcher from Kennesaw, Georgia, made his third start on the bump this season and tossed 5.2 strong innings in a hard-fought loss. Friese allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out three and issued two walks in his outing.
 
After UAB placed the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, the Owls finally got on the board in the top half of the fourth inning to knot the ballgame at 1-1. KSU capitalized on two Blazer errors in the frame, including a throwing error from the catcher to allow sophomore Griffin Helms to cross home plate.
 
After UAB regained its lead to 4-1 with one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, Kennesaw State responded yet again by placing a crooked two on the scoreboard.
 
RBI singles off the bats of Howell and Williams pulled the Owls within 4-3 in the top half of the seventh. After Turner Watkins and Mason Ward both shut out the Blazers out of the bullpen, the Owls had one final chance in the top of the ninth.
 
LaDonis Bryant, who pinch hit for the Owls in the ninth, and leadoff hitter Chris Erwin recorded back-to-back singles with one out before Williams hit a hard liner right at the first baseman for a game-ending double play.
 
The series finale, and the rubber match, is set for Sunday (March 6) afternoon.
 
Up Next
The Owls will return to action on Sunday (March 6) afternoon, taking on the Blazers of UAB at Regions Field in the third and final game of the weekend series. . The Owls took 2-of-3 from the Blazers at Stillwell Stadium in 2015.
 
Notes
- The Owls are now 0-4 when a team scored the first run of a ballgame this season.
- Six players recorded a hit on the day, as David Chabut hit his second multi-hit game as an Owl this season.  
- Austin Upshaw totaled his first hit since snapping his five-game hitting streak on Feb. 28, and now has a hit in six of the Owls' 10 games.
- Grant Williams recorded his fifth RBI on the season, which ranks third on the team.
- Mason Ward and Turner Watkins each made their fourth appearances out of the bullpen this season.
 
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