Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshman Jamarie Brooks went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with six RBI in Kennesaw State baseball's 14-5 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night inside Swanson Stadium. Brooks set single-game career highs in both hits and RBI as the Owls (24-29, 13-16 ASUN Conference) evened the series with the Eagles (38-16, 20-9 ASUN) heading into tomorrow's finale.
The Kennesaw State offense slashed 17 hits and had seven Owls with multiple-hit games. The Owls three-through-five batters ended the game 9-for-13 with six runs scored and eight RBI.
Spencer Hanson and Nick Colina each produced two hits and two runs scored. The duo also drove in one run apiece.
Jackson Chirello drove in three runs courtesy of his eighth inning home run. The freshman finished 2-for-6 with one run scored.
Aaron Posey notched a 2-for-5 night with an RBI in his third start this year.
Hudson Mimbs also finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored.
Brayden Eidson had a 2-for-6 night out of the leadoff spot as the first baseman led the team with three runs scored.
Nick Zegna got the start on the mound for KSU to notch his 13th of the season. The senior tossed 3.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits with one strikeout. He was credited with the no-decision in the contest.
Smith Pinson (3-2) tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory. The right-hander struck out four and allowed only three hits during his 18th appearance.
FGCU scored its first two runs in the third inning to take an early lead, but KSU cut the deficit to one in the fourth when Brooks scored from third on a balk.
The Owls took the lead in the top of the fifth with two more runs. The inning started with back-to-back singles from Mimbs and Eidson before Zac Corbin drew a walk to load the bases. Hanson reached on a walk to tie things up, then a sacrifice fly from Colina gave KSU a 3-2 lead.
Florida Gulf Coast scratched three across in the bottom of the fifth to pull ahead 5-3, but Mimbs launched a home run in the sixth to put the Owls back within one.
With the bases loaded in the seventh, Brooks laced a double to left that scored two. Posey followed with a line drive up the middle to bring in the third Owl of the frame. This marked the fourth lead change of the night and put KSU ahead 7-5.
Brooks ripped his fourth hit of the night down the third base line in the eighth that scored two more and increased the Owls' advantage to 9-5. This was the first four-hit game of the freshman's career.
Chirello followed by launching his fifth homer to deep right that put Kennesaw State ahead by seven.
To cap off an incredible night, Brooks ripped another single in the top of the ninth that scored two runs and moved the score to 14-5, which held as the final.
Kennesaw State is back in action tomorrow afternoon for game three of its series with FGCU. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. inside Swanson Stadium and will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
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.
