THE BASICS
Records: Kennesaw State (5-6), Samford (5-5)
Score Game: Kennesaw State 9, Samford 3
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Cody Shelton vs. RHP AJ Moore
Key Players: Grant Williams (3-for-6), Taylor Allum (2-for-4, two runs), Terence Norman (2-for-3, career-high four runs, RBI), Jaylen Smith (3-for-4, two RBI) and Daniel Seres (1-for-3, RBI)
 
Box Score (PDF)

THE STORYLINE: 
· Kennesaw State scored nine runs on 14 hits Friday night, opening its three-game series with a 9-3 winning decision over Samford at Stillwell Stadium.
· The Owls (5-6) registered a season-high 14 hits to climb within one game back to the .500 mark, while the Bulldogs sit at 5-5 entering Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
· Sophomore LF Garrett Hodges' RBI single in the second inning game KSU a 1-0 lead, which proved to be a wire-to-wire victory in the series opener.
· Kennesaw State went on to score a game-high three runs in the third, a crooked two in the fourth, one more in the sixth and hung two in the seventh to tally nine runs on the night.
. RHP AJ Moore, a Dacula, Ga., native,--who made his third start of the season—allowed three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings of work to contain the Samford's lineup.
· Moore struck out seven Bulldogs on the evening, falling three short of a new career high.
· The lineup produced eight of its nine starters with at least one hit, as Grant Williams (3-for-6), Taylor Allum (2-for-4, two runs), Terence Norman (2-for-3, career-high four runs, RBI), Jaylen Smith (3-for-4, two RBI) and Daniel Seres (1-for-3, RBI) paced the offense.
· The five Owls combined for 11 of the 14 hits, driving in four runs and scoring seven runs.
· Kennesaw State's bullpen did its part, as RHP Luke Torbert (1-1) picked up his first win tossing 2.0 frames, allowing no runs on no hits and struck out two.
· LHP Cooper Mayhall and RHP Taylor Wilkes tossed scoreless outings as well, with Wilkes shutting out the Bulldogs over the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit and tallied three punch outs.
 
TICKETS
The Department of Athletics is offering a 10-game pack for $20 for the remainder of the season, which can be purchased onsite or individual games. You can also do so by CLICKING HERE. You can also reach the ticket box office by calling 470-578-4849 for any ticket inquiries.

Premium home games ($10) include: North Florida (April 13), Lipscomb (April 20), Georgia State (May 8), Georgia Southern (May 9) and Clemson (May 15), and are priced $10 for single-game tickets. 
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State returns to Stillwell Stadium Saturday afternoon to take on the Bulldogs for its second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Youtube Live.