KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State's
Donovan Cash hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to spark an Owl rally, while
Tyler Simon provided the winning play as the Owls salvaged a split with Liberty thanks to a 9-8 victory in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. The win to cap the three-game series gave the Owls a two-game lead over the Flames in the ASUN Conference standings.
Liberty did win the first game by a 18-3 margin to claim the series win but finished the day at 9-6 in the conference (22-12 overall). The Owls also stand at 22-12 but hold a league-best 11-4 record in ASUN play.
Game One: Liberty 18 – KSU 3 (7 innings)
Liberty jumped all over game one starter
Brayden Eidson, taking an 8-0 lead as the first seven Flames reached base safely. KSU gave up seven hits and a pair of errors in the inning as well. The Owls did close the margin to six thanks to a two-run homer from Cash in the bottom of the inning. However, KSU only managed one more run the rest of the way, while Liberty tacked on six more in the second and three in the third on the way to the win.
The other offensive highlight for KSU in game one was
Cash Young as he went 2-for-2 with one RBI thanks to a solo homer to lead off the sixth inning.
Eidson (3-1) took the loss for the Owls, who would send a total of five pitchers to the mound in the opening game that was ended after seven innings. KSU was held to just five hits overall while the visiting Flames finished with 17.
Game Two: KSU 9 – Liberty 8
The second game was a much different affair, with the both teams grabbing leads before Simon's game-winning at-bat in the ninth. Liberty again wasted no time in scoring the first run, this time on the first pitch of the game. However, KSU starter
John Bezdicek sent down three of the next four batters, and the Owls would tie the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Young to show this would be a more competitive contest.
Liberty added two runs in the fourth inning and two more in the top of the sixth for a 5-1 advantage. The game changed in the bottom of the frame thanks to a pair of doubles that plated two runs to make it a 5-3 score. With two runners on base, Cash stepped to the plate and sent a hard blast to left field for his second home run of the afternoon, and a 6-5 KSU advantage.
The Owls had runners at first and second and were then intentionally walked to load the bases in the seventh inning, which then led to a two-RBI single from Simon to put KSU up by three at 8-5. Liberty clawed back into the game however, with a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to knot the contest at 9-9.
KSU again placed runners at first and second thanks to a walk, a sac bunt and an intentional walk. That set the scene for Simon who came to the plate with one out. The senior shortstop hit a hard shot to the second baseman who misplayed the ball and allowed it to hit off his chest into the outfield. Nick Hassen took advantage of the error to score the winning run from second base, giving the Owls the walk-off victory.
Cash was one of three Owls with three hits in the game, going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Simon was also 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Young was 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Bezdicek pitched five innings and allowed three earned runs off five hits while striking out five.
Jared Rine pitched the final two innings and picked up the win (3-0) after striking out two and allowing three runs, two unearned.
The Black and Gold return to action with a mid-week game at Georgia State on Tuesday, April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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.
