Records: Kennesaw State (6-6), Georgia Southern (8-5)
Score: Kennesaw State 9, Georgia Southern 10 (12 innings)
Starting Pitching Matchup: LHP Lawson Humphries vs. RHP Tony Dibrell
Key Players: Grant Williams (3-for-5); Alex Liquori (3-for-4, 2 Runs); Chris Erwin (3-for-6, 3 RBI); Justin Motley (1-for-4, 2 RBI); Jeremy Howell (2-for-5, run): Tony Dibrell (Career-high 9 strikeouts)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

STATESBORO, Ga. – In a back-and-forth, mid-week non-conference clash at J.I Clements Stadium, the Kennesaw State Owls dropped a hard-fought classic, 10-9, on Tuesday (March 8) evening in front of 849 fans in 12 innings.
 
The 12-inning marathon marked the longest game in series history, previously breaking two games in the all-time series which played 11 frames. It was the first time KSU played 12 innings in a game since 2014.
 
In the ballgame, the Owls (6-6) and the Eagles (8-5) battled over six lead changes and five ties. In fact, either Kennesaw State or Georgia Southern scored at least a run in nine of the 12 frames, as only the first, eighth, and 11^th frames were scoreless between the two clubs.
 
The Owls scored in five different frames throughout the game, plating crooked numbers on the left field scoreboard in three of those innings. KSU scored two runs in the second, two more in the fourth, a single run in the sixth and a game-high three runs in the seventh and one in the 10^th.  
 
Richard Lovelady made his team-leading seventh appearance out of the bullpen, working a key 1.2 innings late in the ballgame. The left-handed pitcher from Hinesville, Georgia, allowed just two hits and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard after Georgia Southern scored in four consecutive frames to keep the 8-7 lead intact before the Eagles scored in the bottom half of the ninth to force extra innings.
 
The two teams battled back and forth in extras, totaling four hits and three runs over the three extra innings of play that determined the outcome. The two teams traded runs in the 10^th before a scoreless 11^th frame. Deadlocked at 9, Georgia Southern scored the game-winning run in the bottom half of the 12^th to earn the victory in a non-conference showdown.
 
For Kennesaw State, 10 players recorded at least one hit, combining for 17 hits on the day –which fell two hits shy of a season high. Junior Chris Erwin led the way offensively, going 3-for-6 with three RBI at the dish. Senior Alex Liquori chipped in, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate and Grant Williams finished 3-for-5 at the plate. Senior Justin Motley (two RBI) and Corey Greeson (pinch hit RBI) also contributed for KSU.
 
Up Next
Non-conference action continues at Stillwell Stadium with a three-game weekend series against Middle Tennessee on March 11-13. The games will be broadcasted on A-SUN TV with Nathan McCreary on the call for the Owls. Friday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m.
 
Notes
- Tonight's matchup marked the 21^st meeting between the two teams, and the sixth consecutive season the two teams have played against each other.
- The meeting marked the ninth time the Owls and Eagles have met over the past 11 seasons, dating back to 2006 when the Owls turned Division I joining the Atlantic Sun Conference.
- Prior to the night, the Owls and Eagles played two, 11-inning games in the all-time series.
- The game marked the longest contest in series history.
- The last time the Owls played a 13-inning game was against Jacksonville State on March 3, 2014 in a 7-5 victory –falling three outs shy of reaching that mark.
- The Owls reached 10 or more hits in a single game for the eighth time this season and the 17 hits were the second-most in a single game this season.
- Tony Dibrell recorded a career-high nine strikeouts on the night, tossing 4.2 innings in his second start of the season.
- The Owls used eight pitchers in the game, the most used in a single contest this season.
- The last time the Owls played back-to-back extra-inning games was in 2014, On May 17 & 21 against North Florida and ETSU.
 
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