Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – The bats came to life in Kennesaw State baseball's second game of the year as the Owls posted 13 hits in route to a 10-1 victory over New Orleans. With the win, KSU (1-1) evened the weekend series with the Privateers (1-1) heading into tomorrow's rubber match.
Blake Wehunt got the start on the mound and posted a strong showing in his Kennesaw State debut. The junior tossed four innings and allowed zero runs on three hits. The Southern Miss transfer struck out the side in his first inning and finished the afternoon with six total K's.
Nick Colina had a big day at the plate, posting his first multi-hit game of the year. The senior finished a 2-for-3 afternoon with one RBI.
Nick Hassan and Jackson Chirello bolstered the middle of the Owl lineup, combining for four hits in the contest. Hassan ended 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Chirello collected two hits for the first base knocks of his collegiate career.
Spencer Hanson finished 2-for-3 and added a team-high two RBI for the Owls. The KSU designated hitter is off to a strong start in '23 and has posted knocks in both games of this series. Â
The Owls jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second with four hits. Hanson led off with a single and advanced to second on a perfect base-hit bunt from Brayden Eidson. Another sac bunt moved the pair into scoring position before Jay Knowles executed a beautiful safety squeeze that plated KSU's first run.
Zac Corbin and Colina each followed with singles through the left and right side that put Kennesaw State up by three. Both base knocks were recorded with two outs in the inning.
The fourth inning started with a knock from Hassan who advanced to third on a double from Chirello. Both runners scored on sac flies from Hanson and Eidson to extend the KSU lead to 5-0.
New Orleans scored its only run in the top of the fifth to pull the score closer, 5-1. With runners on first and second, Knowles fielded a ball that deflected off the KSU pitcher and threw it to first to end the Privateers' threat.
Chirello led off the KSU fifth with his second knock of the afternoon. The freshman came around to score when Hudson Mimbs laced a two-out double to left-center. Knowles followed by reaching on an error which scored a hustling Mimbs from second base. This gave the Owls a 7-1 advantage.
In the sixth, Hassan doubled high off the left field wall and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hanson followed suit with a liner up the middle to extend the Owls' lead, 8-1.
Miller Riggins entered in the seventh and tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the KSU bullpen.
Kennesaw State added two runs on a fielder's choice in the eighth that moved the score to 10-1, which held as the final.
Other notables for KSU include Knowles (2-for-3, RBI, R), Mimbs (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), Zac Corbin (1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) and  Eidson (1-for-3, R, RBI).
KSU is back in action tomorrow for the final game of its Opening Weekend series. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. versus New Orleans at Stillwell Stadium.
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.
