By: Matteen Zibanejadrad
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Kennesaw State baseball team (6-3) won its series opener against the University of Alabama at Birmingham (5-3) on Friday evening, after a three-run eighth inning facilitated a 3-2 victory. Jake Rice and Jared Rine put on a pitching clinic, as their combined performance allowed only one earned run and four allowed hits.
Rice attained the Owls' ace spot, starting in the first game of the weekend against the Blazers. The graduate pitcher returned to his hometown of Birmingham, Ala. and was nearly flawless. The leftie earned six strikeouts in his seven innings of one-run ball, but the unearned run preserved Rice's perfect 0.00 ERA on the season. The former Presbyterian player has gotten off to such a hot start, with his three wins leading the ASUN Conference.
The KSU offense was quiet until Tyler Simon hit a double that hugged the right-field line in the top of the eighth inning. The hit originally pushed Brayden Eidson to third base after the newly-established first baseman's walk, but a poor throw from the UAB outfielder was able to score the freshman. After his extra-base hit tied the game at 1, it's easy to see that Simon is accustomed to big hits; it was his triple that put KSU in the lead against UGA on Wednesday night.
The shortstop was able to move to third base after a wild pitch and he scored after Nick Hassan chopped a hit up the middle for his first RBI of the season. The freshman designated hitter was able to move to the other corner of the diamond with two passed balls and Tyler Tolve scored him with a groundout to second base.
Rine came in and set the tone for his two innings of relief with a three-up, three-down bottom of the eighth. He let up one run off of a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth after the Blazers started their final frame with a leadoff triple. The six-foot-four sophomore completed his save when the final batter fouled out to Eidson.
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.
