By: Matteen Zibanejadrad
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Kennesaw State baseball team fell to No. 24 Georgia Tech, after the Yellow Jacket bats showed their power with four home runs in the Owls' 13-5 loss Saturday evening at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Georgia Tech (21-17) pounced first in the second inning with a pair of one-run singles, taking an early 2-0 lead. Kennesaw State ripped the advantage out of the host's hands with a three-run Tyler Tolve home run to right field in the top of the third. The seventh big fly of the catcher's season, Tolve tied teammate Terence Norman for the team lead in home runs with seven. The three RBIs also put the backstop over the 40-RBI threshold.
Tyler Simon extended the Owls' lead to 4-2 with a fourth-inning double down the left-field line. Placed perfectly, Malik Spratling displayed blazing speed to score easily from first base.
After a five-run fourth inning for Georgia Tech created considerable distance between the two teams, center fielder Alex Carballo blasted a contender for the longest home run of the Owls' season with a solo shot in the fifth inning. The Floridian's fifth home run of the year made the score 7-5 by hitting the bomb 427 feet to right field.
That was all the Kennesaw State bats could muster for the rest of the day and the Jackets posted a trio of two-run innings to make their eventual 13-5 victory imminent.
The Owls still have another chance to post a series win against Georgia Tech Sunday at 1 p.m. and they'll have the home-field advantage as the series shifts to the Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.
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.
