KENNESAW, Ga. – Squaring off the first time since the ASUN Tournament Championship last season, Kennesaw State (15-17, 6-7) and Liberty (16-17, 7-6) needed extra innings to decide a winner in game one. Liberty outlasted the Owls 6-2 in 11 innings Friday night at Stillwell Stadium. Tonight's 11-inning contest was the first extra-inning game for KSU this season.
Blake Wehunt posted his fourth quality start of the year. The right-hander's final line on the night was seven innings, five strikeouts, five hits and one earned run. The seven innings pitched tied a career-high he set earlier this season against Eastern Kentucky.
Blake Aita pitched 3.1 innings and added four strikeouts.
Offensively, KSU scored two runs on 11 hits.
Nick Hassan posted a strong performance, going 3-for-5 on the night.
Donovan Cash and Braydon Eidson finished with two hits apiece.
Nick Colina,
Chris Cole,
Spencer Hanson and
Hudson Mimbs collected a hit to lead the KSU offense.
Kennesaw State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Cash singled to left and Colina was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Hanson stepped up to the plate and ripped an RBI single to left to open the scoring.
Wehunt cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three hits.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Eidson and Cash singled to start a two-out rally. Colina loaded up the bases for the Owls with a walk, but Hanson just missed a grand slam on a deep fly out to right-center.
Liberty tied the game 1-1 after a pair of singles and a wild pitch scored the tying run in the top of the fifth.
Wehunt bounced back and retired the side in order in the top half of the next inning.
Wade Richardson led off the sixth with a leadoff walk and came around to score on a Cash grounder to third to put KSU back in front, 2-1.
Wehunt closed out his strong starting performance on the mound with another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh.
Aita entered in relief in the eighth and pitched a perfect frame. In the top of the ninth, Liberty tied the game on a throwing error that scored a runner from second.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cash narrowly missed a walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.
Aita pitched a clean frame in the top of the 10th and had two punchouts to send the Owls to the plate tied.
The Owls loaded up the bases in the bottom of the 10th. With two outs,
Makenzie Stills laid down a great bunt in between the pitcher and third but was called out on a bang-bang play at first base.
Liberty took the lead for the first time on the night by scoring four runs in the top of the 11th to go up 6-2, which held as the final score.
The Owls take on Liberty Saturday for a doubleheader with the first game slated to start at 2 p.m. (ET).
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.
