KENNESAW, Ga. – It was a tale of two games for the Owls on Saturday, as the Owls recorded five hits in game one and won before falling in game two after recording 11 hits.
With the win in game two of the three-game set, the Owls clinched the series win for their second series win of 2019.
Game One
The pitching shined once again for Kennesaw State in the first game, as the Owls used just two hurlers, who allowed just one run on three hits.
Ryan Kennedy started on the hill and went 6.0 innings, allowing just one run and striking out six.
Jared Rine continued his impressive start to the season, as he pitched three innings of no-run, no-hit baseball. The freshman earned his first win of his collegiate career while punching out six of the 11 batters he faced.
The Skyhawks took the lead in the third inning after an RBI single for their lone run. Kennesaw State took little time to respond, as
Tyler Tolve scored
Jake Franklin with a base hit to left center to tie the game.
Alex Carballo drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning to give the Owls their final lead of the game.
Tolve recorded the Owls only multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, while Franklin,
Darius Diaz and
David Chabut each tallied one hit.
Game Two
In a game opposite of the first, both teams combined for 23 hits. UT Martin scored a pair in the first inning and two in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
Jaylen Smith cut the Skyhawk lead in half in third inning with a two-run home run to left field that scored
Garrett Hodges. In the next inning, the Skyhawks tacked on another run to push the lead to 5-2 with a sacrifice fly.
With two runners on base in the fifth inning Franklin lined a double down the right-field line to score Hodges, but the Owls could not do anymore damage.
A.J. Willoughby scored in the sixth inning to cut the lead to just one run when
Tyler Simon grounded out to the short stop. UT Martin scored one more in the seventh and the Owls could not recover and fell 6-4.
The Owls offense was hot, but had trouble plating runs. Hodges ended with three hits, while Franklin and Willoughby each recorded two.
The bullpen for the Owls gave up just one run in 4.1 innings and gave up just four hits.
Josh Coburn got the start for Kennesaw State and pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 5 runs and eight hits.
Series Notes
- Jake Franklin finished the series batting .417 with five hits and an RBI
- A.J. Willoughby ended 2-for-5
- Owls' pitching staff ERA was 2.67
- Jared Rine finished with 3.0 innings pitched and did not allow a hit
- Brooks Buckler ended with a 1.29 ERA through 7.0 innings
- Ryan Kennedy tallied a 1.50 ERA in 6.0 innings and punched out six batters
Up Next
The Owls welcome Georgia Tech on Tuesday (March 5) at 5 p.m. and will travel to Atlanta on Wednesday (March 6) at 6 p.m.
