KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls held an early lead, but could not fend off Jacksonville in a 9-6 setback at Stillwell Stadium.
After facing a 1-0 deficit in the first inning, Kennesaw State manufactured four runs in the second frame. Jaylen Smith drove in the first run for the Owls with a single to center field that plated Garrett Hodges. Daniel Seres followed with an RBI single before Jake Franklin picked up two RBI with a base knock to center field.
JU cut the lead to just one in the third, but Hodges answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame.
Jacksonville plated five unanswered runs midway through the contest and took a 7-5 heading into the eighth inning.
Justin Russell belted his 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth, but that was the closest the Owls would come to the Dolphin lead.
Brooks Buckler started the game for Kennesaw State and tossed 5.0 innings, yielding three earned runs while he struck out a pair. Hodges turned in the only multi-hit performance for the Owls' bats as he finished 2-for-3.
The Owls will continue the series tomorrow at 2 p.m.
