KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls' offense continued to stay hot in the mid-week tilt against Mercer, as Kennesaw State beat the Bears 8-5 at Stillwell Stadium on Wednesday night.
 
After falling behind by four runs after the fourth inning, the Owls responded with a seven-run fifth inning to take their only lead of the ballgame.
 
Mercer hit a solo shot in the first inning before scoring two in the third and one in the fourth frame. 
 
With the bases loaded for Jake Franklin in the fifth inning, the Homer, Ga., native cranked a double to right field to score Jaylen Smith and Darius Diaz for Kennesaw State's first runs of the contest. Terence Norman followed with a single to plate Tyler Simon before Justin Russell roped an RBI single to score Franklin and tie the game at four runs.
 
With one out, Tyler Tolve singled through the right side to bring home Norman and give the Owls the lead, 5-4. After David Chabut executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Tolve to second and Russell to third, Darius Diaz brought home both runners with a single to right field to push the lead to 7-4. 
 
Mercer pulled within two runs in the seventh inning with a double to right field, but Tolve responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to stretch the lead back to three runs. 
 
Tolve finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Owls. 
 
Josh Coburn picked up the win on the bump after tossing 5.0 innings. He ended with three punch outs while giving up four earned runs. 
 
Nathan Dupree earned his first save of the season after coming in and shutting the Bears down in the ninth inning.
 
The Owls return to ASUN action with a three-game set at North Florida this weekend.