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KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State baseball team (16-8, 4-2) relied on its pitching staff and ASUN Player of the Week Alex Carballo to complete a four-game sweep of the Georgia State Panthers (5-21) on Monday night in Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls wasted no time in generating offense in the series finale, as Tyler Tolve tied the ASUN lead in triples with a first-inning knock to left-center field. Terence Norman would then score the left fielder by reaching on a two-out error by the Georgia State shortstop.
After the Panthers tied the game in the top of the third inning with a one-run base hit, Tolve would contribute again in the bottom frame by scoring third baseman Jake Coro with a hard groundout to second base. Carballo found no difficulties in scoring the speedy Jesse Sherrill with a sacrifice fly to his Georgia State counterpart in center field, as the Owls took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
Georgia State would not score another run on Monday night, as starting pitcher Ryan Kennedy continued his tremendous pitching form from his no-decision against No. 12 Georgia last Tuesday. In his five innings pitched, the junior from Westchester, Va. let up a lone run on seven hits; the six-foot-two leftie also sat down seven Panthers via strikeout, a season high for Kennedy.
Carballo completed an amazing series against Georgia State, as he swung for his second RBI of the day with a one-bagger to plate Sherrill in the bottom of the fifth inning. In his series against the Panthers, the Floridian went seven-for-15 for a .467 batting average; he hit two home runs and hit eight RBIs over the four games.
The Georgia State lineup didn't find the matchup any easier after Kennedy left the mound, as relievers Monty Horn, Nathan Holler, Jared Rine and Kolby Johnson held the Atlanta, Ga. team to only two hits. Holler impressed, as he struck out the side in what was the freshman's third appearance in a week.
Norman would put the finishing touches on the occasion, singling through the left side to capture the final 5-1 scoreline in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Monday night's victory finished up the Owls' first-ever four-game sweep of the Panthers in program history. It also extended a KSU winning streak to five games, as the team reenters conference play on Thursday.
The only team above Kennesaw State in the ASUN's Northern Division is Liberty, who the Owls will face in three games this weekend. KSU begins the series against the Flames with a Thursday contest slated for 5 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.
