KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State offense exploded for 12 runs in the top of the first and outlasted Georgia Southern 13-9 in a high-scoring affair Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium. The Owls (17-18) swept the Eagles (18-19) in both meetings this season.
The Owls scored 13 runs on 15 hits, with eight of those being for extra bases. Kennesaw State was an impressive 8-for-13 on the night with runners in scoring position.
Donovan Cash went 3-for-5 with four RBI, including a mammoth three-run homer to left field in the bottom of the first.
Nick Colina ended up 3-for-4, with two doubles, two RBI, three runs and a walk.
In his first game back from injury,
Zac Corbin finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI. Corbin added a pair of doubles in the bottom of the first inning.
Spencer Hanson also went 2-for-5 at the dish and knocked in one run and scored twice.
Jamarie Brooks collected two singles, an RBI, and a run.
Jackson Chirello ripped his second triple of the season and added a single and an RBI.
Nick Hassan finished with a double and scored a run.
The Kennesaw State bullpen displayed a dominant performance against the Eagles. The bullpen didn't allow a run in six innings of work.
Luke Cooper earned the first win of his career and pitched three scoreless innings on two hits and two strikeouts.
Nolan Sliver went one inning and got a strikeout in relief.
Agyei Quinichett produced his ninth appearance without allowing a run after a scoreless eighth inning.
Smith Pinson came into the ninth with two runners on and two out. Pinson got the first batter to ground to first base to close the door on the Eagles for his fourth save of the season.
In his fourth start of the season,
Brayden Eidson jumped out to a quick start and struck out two Georgia Southern batters in the first inning.
The Owls batted around in the top of the first and plated 12 runs. Colina led off with a walk and Cash singled to left to put runners on first and second with no outs. Hanson laced a double to right-center to give the Owls an early 1-0 lead. Corbin extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-RBI double down the right-field line. Chirello followed with an RBI triple off the batter's eye in center. Brooks added an RBI single.
Batting for the second time in the inning, Colina ripped a two-RBI double down the right-field line. Cash then blasted a three-run home run to push the lead to 10-0. Corbin hit his second double of the inning to make it 12-0 after one inning of baseball.
Georgia Southern answered with six runs in the top of the second.
Cash knocked in his fourth RBI of the game with a single to right to stretch the lead back to 13-6 in the bottom half of the inning.
The Eagles added three runs in the top of the fourth to cut the KSU lead to 13-9.
Cooper entered from the bullpen in the fourth and kept Georgia Southern off the board through the sixth inning.
Sliver entered in relief in the top of the seventh and retired the side in order to keep the Owls in front 13-9.
Quinichett inherited runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the eighth and got out of the jam to keep Georgia Southern off the board.
Pinson entered with two runners on and two outs in the top of the ninth and needed just two pitches to get the save as the Owls secured the 13-9.
The Owls head to Charlotte for a three-game series against ASUN Conference newcomer Queens starting Friday at 6 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.
