CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Kennesaw State baseball team (7-5) rallied back to compete with the Western Carolina Catamounts (8-4), but the high-scoring game in Cullowhee, N.C. ended after the home team closed out a 12-11 win on Wednesday night.
The Catamounts did a considerable amount of damage in the first inning, scoring six runs in their opening frame.
Brison Finney came in the first inning and brought a calming presence to the Owls' defense, throwing four innings while allowing no earned runs off two hits and two strikeouts.
Base hits from Gavin Patel and Nick Colina scored two runs to bring the scoreline to 6-2 after the top of the second inning.
The Owls loaded the bases to start the third inning and Garrett Hodges got hit by a pitch to score a run. After a balk scored another run, Patel tied the game at six with a two-run single that barely stayed fair. Starting his second game, Patel hit three RBIs against Western Carolina; he increased his season tally to eight on the year.
Down 11-7 in the eighth inning, Terence Norman doubled to the right-field gap to score Colina and Jesse Sherrill to cut the Catamounts' lead to 11-9. Jake Coro came in to pinch hit and blooped a pitch to shallow center field to plate Norman. The Owls completed another comeback when Tyler Simon sent a ball right back up the middle to score Tyler Tolve and tie the game at 11.
Western Carolina scored their winning run on a play that caused some controversy with the KSU coaching staff, after a potential strike-them-out, throw-them-out double play was terminated by a safe call by the second-base umpire. The runner at third base would score as a result.
WCU had a three-up, three-down inning to close out a 12-11 win against the Owls.
KSU returns to play this weekend with a three-game series against ASUN newcomers Bellarmine, with the series kicking off on Friday at 4 p.m.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
