DELAND, Fla. – After taking a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Kennesaw State baseball fell 6-5 at Stetson Friday night in the ASUN Conference opener.
Brayden Eidson and
Chris Cole led the KSU offense, going 2-for-5 on the night with a pair of singles each..
Nick Colina,
Nick Hassan and
Jackson Chirello each collected a double and an RBI.
Spencer Hanson added a pinch-hit RBI single to round out the scoring for the Owls.
Zac Corbin led off the game with a walk and Colina ripped a double to right center to plate Corbin.
Donovan Cash followed with a single up the middle to set up a Hassan sac fly to bring in Colina. Chirello added a two-out double for his eighth RBI of the season as the Owls took an early 3-0 lead.
Stetson answered with four runs in the bottom of the first to go back in front, 4-3.
The Owls loaded the bases in the second inning but couldn't convert, but
Blake Wehunt bounced back to retire the Hatters in order in the bottom half of the frame.
Blake Aita entered in relief for the Owls with the bases loaded and got KSU out of the jam with a huge strikeout to end the threat in the bottom of the third and pitched a perfect frame in the bottom of the fourth.
Eidson led off the fifth inning with his second single of the day. Chirello followed with a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Hudson Mimbs reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error from Stetson brought home Eidson to tie the game at 4-4.
Smith Pinson came in for Kennesaw State and shut down the Hatters' rally with a strikeout and a timely double play and went 2.1 innings, allowing no runs to keep it tied through six innings.
In the top of the ninth, Hanson came through in the clutch with a two-out RBI to give the Owls a 5-4 lead.
Stetson responded in the bottom of the ninth with two runs to get the walk-off win.
Due to potential rain in the area, tomorrow's game originally scheduled at 6:30 p.m. will now be played at 1:30 p.m. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Melching Field at Conrad Park.
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.
