Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2 | Purchase Tickets
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State baseball split its Saturday doubleheader with Liberty after a 5-3 victory in game one and a 9-1 defeat in game two. After today's results, the Owls hold a 16-18 (7-8 ASUN Conference) record, while the Flames sit at 17-18 (8-7 ASUN).
 
Game 1 Final:    Liberty  3            Kennesaw State 5
Nick Zegna (4-3) made his eighth start on the mound and tied his season-high with 7.0 innings pitched. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits while punching out three. Zegna's performance notched his third quality start of the year.

Tyler Franks entered in the eighth and tossed one inning with one strikeout. This was the southpaw's 11th relief appearance of the season.

Agyei Quinichett tossed a clean ninth inning to pick up his second career save. The freshman struck out one and forced two fly balls to seal the victory.

The Kennesaw State offense produced five hits with three going for extra bases. Nick Colina and Hudson Mimbs both added solo home runs while Jackson Chirello connected for a double. Nick Hassan and Wade Richardson also added base knocks.

The Owls escaped a jam in the first when Zegna induced a 1-2-3 double play to keep the Flames off the scoreboard.

KSU took a 3-0 lead in the second, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Chirello. The two-bagger was the 11th of the year for the freshman outfielder.  

Liberty chipped back with two runs in its next at-bat to cut the deficit to one.

Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard over the next four innings.

With one out in the seventh, Mimbs launched his fourth home run of the year that moved the Owls ahead, 4-2. The solo shot was the sixth deep fly of his career.   

Trialing by one in the top of the eighth, Liberty hit a fly ball to right field that Brayden Eidson caught for the second out. Attempting to tie the game, the Flames baserunner sprinted towards home but was gunned out when Eidson threw a laser right to the KSU catcher.

Colina added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a solo shot to right-center field. The long ball was the third of the year for the senior and extended the Owls' lead to 5-3, which held as the final.
 
Game 2 Final:    Liberty  9            Kennesaw State 1
Freshman right-hander Braden Osbolt (1-1) made his ninth start of the season in game two of the doubleheader. He threw 6.0 innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Luke Cooper entered out of the bullpen and tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Cooper punched out two in his sixth appearance.

Brooks Rosser followed with a scoreless ninth frame. The right-hander retired the side in order and notched two strikeouts.

At the plate, Kennesaw State was led by Nick Colina who was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and run scored.

Other notables included Bradyen Eidson (1-for-3), Donovan Cash (1-for-4) and Makenzie Stills (1-for-3).

Liberty jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with runs in the second and third inning.

KSU scored its first run in the sixth, when Colina led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Spencer Hanson. This cut the Flames' advantage to 3-1.

Liberty broke the game open with six runs in the seventh inning to increase its lead to 9-1, which held as the final.
 
Next Up
Kennesaw State baseball is back in action next Wednesday as the team hosts Georgia Southern. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. inside Stillwell Stadium. Earlier this year, the Owls defeated the Eagles 4-3, in Statesboro. 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.
  Read Full Article