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Mason Ward
2
USC Upstate UPST 14-20
9
Winner Kennesaw State KSU 15-17
USC Upstate UPST
14-20
2
Final
9
Kennesaw State KSU
15-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 7 0
Kennesaw State KSU 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 X 9 15 0

W: Ward, Mason (3-2) L: WHITNEY, Blake (4-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | By Jake Dorow

BSB: Ward Up! Owls Protect The Nest in ASUN Sweep

Early Offense and the Left Arm of Mason Ward (Pictured) Secured an ASUN Series Sweep

 
THE BASICS
Records: Kennesaw State (15-17, 4-2), USC Upstate (14-20, 1-5)
Score: Kennesaw State 9, USC Upstate 2
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Blake Whitney vs. LHP Mason Ward
Key Players: Mason Ward (6.1 IP, win), Corey Greeson (2-for-4), Chris Erwin (2-for-4, two RBI), David Chabut (2-for-4, two RBI), Austin Upshaw (3-for-4, RBI)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
 
THE STORYLINE: 
· The left arm of Mason Ward dealt 6.1 strong innings and Kennesaw State's offense produced early, carrying the Owls past USC Upstate Sunday afternoon to earn an ASUN series sweep at Stillwell Stadium, 9-2.  
· KSU put up a crooked six runs in the first inning and controlled the contest from the start, giving LHP Ward (3-2) the run-production needed to defend The Nest.
· With the series sweep, Kennesaw State improved to 15-17 overall and 4-2 in ASUN action, while USC Upstate dropped to 14-20 overall and 1-5 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
· The Owls jumped all over the Spartans in the final battle between the two programs, batting around the lineup in the bottom of the first frame to plate six runs on six hits.
· The six-run lead was never surrendered as Kennesaw State grew its largest lead to eight as seven different players recorded at least one RBI in the ballgame.
· The early offensive explosion gave Ward, a senior LHP from Canton, Ga., plenty to work with as the lefty cruised into the seventh inning unharmed.
· Ward dealt from the beginning, allowing just two hits through the first six frames and struck out eight Spartan hitters –which fell one shy of tying his career-best nine for a single outing.
· The lefty issued his only walk of the ballgame in the seventh inning and finished the tilt allowing just four hits and two runs to earn the victory.
·  The bullpen of Taylor Willkes, Brian Exley and Erich Stahl combined 2.2 shutout innings, allowing just three hits and struck out three USC Upstate batters to secure the win.
· Offensively, the Owls had every player in the lineup tally at least one hit, with Grant Williams (2-for-5, RBI), Corey Greeson (2-for-4), Chris Erwin (2-for-4, two RBI), Austin Upshaw (3-for-4, RBI) and David Chabut (2-for-4) all record multiple hits on the afternoon.
 
#NESTNOTES: 
· Grant Williams' leadoff triple in the bottom of the first inning extended his hitting streak to 17 games. His 17-game hitting streak is a team high this season.
· Williams and middle infield teammate David Chabut both tripled in the first inning of the ballgame, marking the first time two teammates tallied three-baggers in the same game.  
· Kennesaw State totaled 10 or more hits in a ballgame for the 19th time in 32 contests this season Sunday afternoon.
· Taylor Allum singled in the first inning, extending his streak to 26 straight games of reaching base safely. The KSU D-I record is 36 games by Max Pentecost in 2014.
· The Owls have now won 13 of their last 14 games versus USC Upstate, outscoring them 105-55 during that stretch.
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State begins a four-game road trip next week taking on non-conference foe Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga., on Tuesday evening. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
 
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