KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls emerged victorious is a 12-10 offensive showcase against Georgia State on Monday night at Stillwell Stadium.
The teams combined for 28 hits in the contest, with Georgia State holding a 15-13 advantage.
Jake Franklin led off the scoring in the first inning with a two-run blast over the center field wall. After a scoreless second frame, the Panthers tied up the game in the third after an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly to center field.
With runners on first and second in the third,
Garrett Hodges singled to left home to bring home Franklin and break the tie ballgame.
The offense exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, beginning with a double to left center from
Tyler Simon to score
Tyler Tolve. After Franklin drew a walk and the Panthers went to their bullpen,
Terence Norman sent a ball up the middle to score Simon and
Ryan Smith.
Justin Russell followed with a double down the left-field line to score Franklin. Hodges plated his second and third RBI with a single during the ensuing at-bat to push across Russell and Norman.
The Panthers kept the game interesting by scoring a run in the fifth and four in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-7, in favor of the Owls.
Simon belted a home run over the left-field fence to lead off the sixth inning for Kennesaw State. It was his second home run in three days. KSU tacked on two more with RBI singles from
David Chabut and
Nick Colina.
The Panthers plated one in the seventh and one in the eighth, but it was not enough as KSU ended on top, 12-10.
Josh Coburn started for the Owls and pitched 4.2 innings, yielding seven hits and three runs. He also added four strikeouts.
Jared Staples earned the win, while
Nathan Dupree,
Rhian Mann and
Jake McLinskey saw time out of the bullpen.
The Owls head to Newark, N.J. on Friday for a three-game set with NJIT this weekend.
Noteworthy
- The Owls hit two home runs (Franklin and Simon)
- Ryan Smith earned his first start
- Garrett Hodges finished 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs
- Franklin, Simon and Russell each recorded two hits
- Norman drew a pair of walks
- 13 hits as a team was the most since March 23 against North Alabama
- The Owls had 21 total baserunners
