Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Josh Hatcher hit for his second cycle in three games as Kennesaw State baseball overcame a six-run deficit to defeat North Florida 17-9 on Saturday afternoon inside Stillwell Stadium. The Owls (15-7, 5-0 ASUN Conference) have won their first five ASUN games for the first time in program history.
On Wednesday, Hatcher made KSU history when he hit for the cycle in the team's 14-12 win over No. 12 Georgia Tech. Two games later, he repeated the feat with another cycle in a 4-for-6 performance against the Ospreys. Hatcher posted five RBI and three runs scored in the contest.
With his multi-hit game, Hatcher has now hit safely in 17 straight and extended his on-base streak to 21. The KSU centerfielder currently leads the team with a .411 average.
"It's hard enough to get one cycle, let alone two in the same week," said head coach
Ryan Coe. "I have no clue if that has ever been done before, what Hatcher did was incredible."
The Owls' offense posted another dynamic day at the plate. KSU posted new season-highs in hits (20) and runs (17). Eight-of-nine starters recorded at least one hit with seven posting multi-hit days. The offense has now scored at least 10 runs in three-straight games.
Zac Corbin registered his ninth multi-hit performance with a 3-for-6 day. The outfielder scored two runs and drove in one. Corbin ranks second on the team with 27 hits.
KSU catcher
Nick Hassan posted a season-high with three hits and three runs scored. Hassan has registered hits in 13 of his 17 starts and has reached base safely in 10-straight games for the Owls.
Tyler Simon,
Donovan Cash and
Cash Young each added two hits apiece for the Owls. The trio combined to score five runs in the middle of the KSU order.
Nick Colina held down the nine-hole and recorded a season-best three hits. The outfielder went 3-for-4 and scored two runs on the day.
Kennesaw State trailed 8-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Owls pounded seven hits for seven runs to take a 9-8 lead. With two outs in the frame, Hatcher launched a 463-ft. home run to right-center that put the Owls ahead. The KSU offense has now scored six-or-more runs in a single inning for the third consecutive game.
The Ospreys (9-14, 1-4) scored one in the first to take an early lead. KSU answered with a
Hudson Mimbs sacrifice fly that drove in Hassan. Two batters later, the Owls took their first lead when Young scored from second on an infield single.
UNF retook the lead and scored seven runs over the next two frames. The back-and-forth continued with Kennesaw State scoring seven runs of its own to re-gain the lead in the fifth.
The Owls added to their lead in the sixth. Cash led the inning off with a double and came around to score on a Young base knock.
Kennesaw State used another big inning to pull away in the seventh. KSU tallied four runs on three hits to take a 14-9 lead. The offense scored three runs with two outs in the frame.
Jared Rine came in to pitch the final three frames for the Owls. The reliever allowed two hits and struck out two en route to his fourth save.
"Winning our first two ASUN series is very important," said Coe. "We have a two-game lead and really want to finish off this series with a sweep."
Kennesaw State is back in action tomorrow as it looks to sweep North Florida for the final game of its ASUN series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. inside Stillwell Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase by clicking
here.
To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State baseball team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook and Instagram.
