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CONWAY, S.C. - A mix of an early offensive explosion and stellar pitching from Jake Rice saw the Owls jump out to a 7-0 lead after four innings. With Bryant University scoring four runs in the fifth inning and two in the eighth, the game came down to a play at the plate for the final out to secure a 7-6 KSU win.
Continuing his splendid performance from last Saturday's 5-1 win against Saint Louis, the Bulldogs faced off with an untouchable Rice on the mound. The graduate pitcher threw for four innings, giving up no runs on one hit and striking out eight. His day ended after striking out six batters in a row through the third and fourth innings. The Birmingham, Ala. native sports a perfect 0.00 ERA on the season. Rice is 2-0 to start the season, letting up just three hits and striking out 14 in his first two games as an Owl.
Terence Norman scored the opening runs in the very first inning, sending home Alex Carballo and Jesse Sherrill with a two-run double. The designated hitter then scored from second base after two straight wild pitches to give Kennesaw State an early 3-0 lead.
Sherrill had a three-for-five day, and it was his second inning base hit that scored Garrett Hodges to extend the Owls' lead to 4-0. The second baseman would score with a fielding error on a Tyler Tolve grounder to end the second inning with a 5-0 gap.
KSU capped their seven-run streak with two sacrifice-flies from outfielders Hodges and Carballo.
Nathan Holler came in after Bryant University scored four runs in the fifth inning and the freshman was perfect through two-and-one-third innings. Holler struck out four and gave up no hits and runs.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Kolby Johnson tried to close out the game with a 7-6 lead and a runner on second base. Catcher Liam McGill singled to left field and Jake Gustin got the green light from his third-base coach. Tolve gathered the ball in the outfield and found his cutoff in Tyler Simon. Simon threw to Nick Hassan at the plate for the tag and Gustin was out for the final play of the game to finish out a 7-6 victory for the Owls.
KSU closes out the Coastal Carolina University Baseball Tournament Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. against hosts Coastal Carolina.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's basketball news, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
