THE BASICS
Records: Kennesaw State (24-30), Stetson (27-28)
Score: Kennesaw State 10, Stetson 5
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Brooks Wilson vs. RHP Tony Dibrell
Key Players: Taylor Allum (2-for-5, five RBI, HR), Garrett Hodges (2-for-5, HR, RBI), Chris Erwin (2-for-4), Austin Upshaw (3-for-4, RBI), Griffin Helms (2-for-4, RBI)
 
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THE STORYLINE: 
· Five extra base hits helped account for 10 runs as No. 5 Kennesaw State powered its way past No. 2 Stetson Hatters Thursday morning at Melching Field, 10-5.
· Garrett Hodges hit a go-ahead home run as part of a six-run, seven-hit explosion in the seventh inning to advance the Owls in the 2017 ASUN Championships.
· With the win, Kennesaw State improves to 24-30 overall and will take on No. 3 FGCU at approximately 7:45 p.m. in the winners bracket.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
· The Owls' lineup produced early and often, out-hitting Stetson 6-2 over the first three innings that resulted in four runs –all with two outs—to take a 4-0 edge over the Hatters.
· ASUN first team all-conference selections Austin Upshaw and Taylor Allum drove in runs in the first and third innings, respectively, while senior left fielder Corey Greeson drove home Griffin Helms as part of a three-run frame.
· The Hatters, however, answered the bell with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to deadlock the ballgame at 4-4.  
· The two teams went on to exchange scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth innings, as Stetson's RHP Brooks Wilson battled Owls' RHP Tony Dibrell on the day.
· The two righties traded 1-2-3 innings to keep the game knotted at 4-4 until freshman Garrett Hodges hit a go-ahead solo home run off Wilson in the seventh inning.
· Hodges' solo blast was the jumpstart to a six-run explosion on seven hits that pushed Kennesaw State's lead to its largest of the tilt at 10-4.
· In the frame, Helms (RBI single), Allum (three-run HR), and sophomore shortstop David Chabut (RBI single) drove in runs to extend the lead to six.
· RHP Tony Dibrell (7-4) tossed 6.2 frames throughout his first start in the ASUN Championships, allowing five runs on six hits and punched out nine to pick up the hard-fought win.
· Senior RHP Gabe Friese (S), a Kennesaw native, worked the final 2.1 innings and kept the Hatters' lineup quiet, not allowing a single hit or walk in a perfect outing to pick up his third save.
· Offensively, the Owls' lineup produced seven players with two or more hits as Allum (2-for-5, five RBI), Hodges (2-for-5, HR, RBI), Chris Erwin (2-for-4), Upshaw (3-for-4, RBI), and Helms (2-for-4, RBI) led the way.
 
#NESTNOTES
· The Owls made their seventh consecutive appearance in the ASUN Championships, dating back to 2011.
· The Black and Gold advanced to the winners bracket after snapping a four-game losing skid in the ASUN Championships over the past two seasons.
· The last time KSU defeated Stetson in the ASUN Championships dates back to 2014, when the Black and Gold topped the Hatters twice on its way to a tournament championship.
· Kennesaw State recorded multiple extra base hits for the seventh time in its previous eight games. The Owls entered the tournament leading the league in slugging percentage (.436).
· Taylor Allum tied Andy Chriscaden's KSU's D-I single-season program record of 15 home runs in the seventh frame.
· Allum's five runs batted in is a single-game career high for the junior, previously beating four in two different occasions.
· ASUN all-freshman selection Garrett Hodges hit his fourth home run of the season, which leads all freshman on the roster in long balls.
· Gabe Friese made his 61^st appearance on the mound, ranking fourth all-time in program history. Friese also ranks first in total innings and second in wins (16).
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State turns back around and takes on No. 3 FGCU in the fourth and final game of the day at Melching Field Thursday evening. The matchup is scheduled to begin at approximately 7:45 p.m., and will air on ESPN3.