THE BASICS
Records: Kennesaw State (19-20, 9-1) vs. Lipscomb (19-19, 3-4)
Final Score: KSU 10, Lipscomb 1
Starting Pitching Matchup: LHP Cody Glenn vs. RHP Gabe Friese
Key Players: Austin Upshaw (3-for-4, 4 RBI);
Brennan Morgan (2-for-4, RBI);
Corey Greeson (3-for-4, RBI);
Jordan Getzelman (2-for-4);
Jeremy Howell (2-for-4, 3 RBI);
Gabe Friese (8.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 run)
Box Score (PDF) |
Box Score (XML)
THE STORYLINE:
· Kennesaw State received a strong pitching performance from
Gabe Friese and produced 10 runs on 15 hits to defeat Atlantic Sun foe Lipscomb in the series opener Friday night at Stillwell Stadium, 8-1 – which concluded Saturday afternoon due to play being suspended because of rain.
· KSU's Friese worked 8.0 innings and allowed just three hits and one run to hold of the Bisons' offense to improve to 5-1 on the season.
· With the win, KSU improved to 19-20 overall and 9-1 in conference play, while Lipscomb fell to 19-19 overall and 3-4 in conference action.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
· The junior righty from Kennesaw, Ga., threw a gem Friday night, recording five 1-2-3 innings and totaled eight punch outs –half of them looking.
· Friese also faced three over the minimum against the Bisons lineup, tossing 65 percent of his pitches for strikes.
· The lineup for head coach
Mike Sansing produced quickly, backing the junior's strong performance on the mound.
· The Owls plated two runs in the first, three more in the second and three more in the sixth and never trailed in the ballgame.
· The top six hitters (
Corey Greeson,
Griffin Helms,
Austin Upshaw,
Brennan Morgan,
Jeremy Howell and
Jordan Getzelman) combined 14-for-24 at the dish and nine RBI.
· In fact, every player in KSU's lineup reached base after the fifth inning and produced a hit in six of the first eight innings played before a weather delay.
· The game was suspended due to rain and things picked up at 2 p.m. Saturday, where the Owls scored two runs in the eighth before
Logan Hutchinson shut the door in the ninth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
·
Austin Upshaw extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double in the second inning.
· Upshaw recorded a career-hihg four RBI in the game.
· The Owls reached 10 or more hits in a game for the 22
nd time this season.
· Every batter in the starting lineup reached base at least once over the first five innings for KSU.
· The Owls continue their best start to conference play in program history, boosting a 9-1 mark through 10 games.
UP NEXT
The Owls will continue their 2016 Atlantic Sun Conference slate, taking on Lipscomb in game two of the weekend series on ASUN TV. The game is scheduled to play Saturday afternoon, following game one of the series opener after play was suspended last night due to rain.
