KENNESAW, Ga. – There was no luck needed for the Owls today (March 17) as KSU's offense exploded for 12 runs on 16 hits as it completed the series sweep over UMASS 12-7.

For the second time this season, Garrett Hodges belted two home runs in the same contest.

KSU continued its impressive first-inning offense on Sunday afternoon with three runs in the opening frame. After back-to-back singles from Jake Franklin and Terence Norman, Hodges launched his first home run of the day over the right-field wall to give KSU an early 3-0 lead.

After UMASS plated one in the second, the Minutemen scored five runs in the third inning to upend the KSU lead and take one of their own, 6-3. The Owls scored a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the third inning after Tyler Simon and Jaylen Smith recorded RBI singles to center field.

After the Minutemen scored a run in the fourth, both teams were quiet in the fifth frame.

The Owls found a pot of gold in the sixth inning that resulted in five runs. After a leadoff walk, A.J. Willoughby took advantage of a UMASS error that put him on first and advanced the runner to second base. With two runners on, David Chabut singled to left field to score Alex Carballo, who entered the game as a pinch runner. During the ensuing at-bat, Franklin hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score the Owls' seventh run of the contest.

Norman doubled off of the right-field wall to score Chabut to push the Owl lead further. Up to bat following Franklin was Hodges, who rocketed his second ball over the right-field fence to bring his RBI total to five. Kennesaw State claimed a 10-7 lead at the end of six innings.

The Owls were not done there – plating a run in the seventh and eighth innings. With the bases loaded and two outs, Norman drew a walk to push the lead to four runs. In the eighth inning, Carballo doubled to right field to plate the Owls final run of the game.

Kennesaw State leaned heavily on its bullpen as starter Josh Coburn pitched 2.2 innings. Seven different Owls saw work in relief, with Cooper Mayhall earning the win.

The Owls return to action on Tuesday (March 19) for a two-game set with Binghamton. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.

Noteworthy

• Hodges hit two home runs, bring his season total to five
• It was the first three-game sweep for the Owls this season
• Cooper Mayhall recorded his first win of the season
• The bullpen allowed just three hits
• The Owls pitching staff punched out nine Minutemen
• Tyler Tolve hit at a .500 clip over the weekend after going 2-for-4 today
• KSU has won five-straight contests
• Nine Owls recorded a hit
• The Owls' offense finished the set batting .378 with a .550 slugging percentage
• The Owls hit three home runs over the past three contests
• Hodges' slugged .714 over the weekend
• Jaylen Smith ended with a .455 batting average for the weekend
• Jaylen Smith stole the Owls only two bases of the weekend
• Tyler Simon finished the weekend batting at a .455 clip with a pair of doubles