GAME ONE: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
GAME TWO: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
KENNESAW, Ga. - Ryan Kennedy pitched a seven-inning, complete game shutout in the second game of the Kennesaw State baseball team's doubleheader with Lipscomb, winning 7-0 after the Owls dropped the first game 8-4.
The Owls (24-11, 12-3) participated in their second doubleheader of the season on Sunday with the Bisons (13-22, 5-10), after Saturday's scheduled game was postponed due to inclement weather.
Lipscomb got off to a hot start, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead over the first three innings of game one.
KSU started to fight back in the fourth inning, with Nick Colina scoring the Owls' first run on a play off the bat of Tyler Simon that caused an error from the Bison third baseman. Jake Coro brought Kennesaw State within two, making it a 5-3 game with a no-doubt shot over the right-field wall of the Stillwell Stadium. This was the third baseman's second home run of the season and of the month, last trotting around the diamond on April 9 against North Alabama.
In the next inning, Colina walked with the bases loaded to cut the home team's deficit to one; however, the Owls were unable to cash in on multiple opportunities and ended the first half of the day with an 8-4 defeat.
Kennesaw State brought a different intensity to the second game and it started to show early. Designated hitter Nick Hassan flared one to right field to take the one-run lead in the first inning, scoring Tyler Tolve from second base.
KSU loaded the bases a handful of times on Sunday and handled it with varying levels of success. In the bottom of the third inning, Colina was able to collect an RBI after a groundout to first base with the bases full of Owls.
The bottom of the fourth started with walks of Jesse Sherrill and Tolve. Center fielder Alex Carballo was able to juice the bases with a picture-perfect bunt that died in the infield grass in front of the batter's box. Cleanup hitter Terence Norman then stepped up to the plate, slapping the first pitch he saw to opposite field for a grand slam. Norman's second four-run bomb of his career made it a 6-0 game. With Sherrill hitting one Wednesday against Georgia Southern, the Owls have hit two grand slams this week despite not hitting one since 2019.
Sherrill led off the fifth inning with a base knock, an advance on a balk and his league-leading 12th stolen base of the season. Carballo then scored the host's seventh run of the day with an RBI single that he chopped up the middle.
With his offense putting him at ease, Kennedy wheeled and dealed all day. Earning his fifth win of the season, the six-foot-two junior struck out a career-high nine batters. He allowed no runs on five hits, in what was the team's first shutout of the season.
"I really enjoyed watching him pitch today," said Head Coach Mike Sansing. "I think he used all three of his pitches efficiently. He was keeping batters off balance and obviously his control was impeccable with him not walking any guys."
The Kennesaw State baseball team continues its homestand Wednesday at 5 p.m. against in-state opposition in Mercer.
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.
