Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kennesaw State baseball finished the 2023 campaign with a 13-8 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon inside Swanson Stadium. Due to inclement weather, the game was called in the eighth inning giving the Owls (25-29, 14-16 ASUN Conference) the series win over the Eagles (38-17, 20-10 ASUN).
Braden Osbolt started on the mound for KSU and went 4.0 innings in his 14th start. The freshman allowed five runs (three earned) with four strikeouts. He was credited with the no-decision in the contest.
Luke Cooper (3-1) entered in the fifth and tossed 2.0 innings. The left-hander surrendered one run on one hit to earn the victory.
Tyler Franks threw the final inning of the game before it was called due to inclement weather.
Offensively, the bats remained hot as the team pounded 15 hits and had four starters record multi-hit performances. The offense was led by Spencer Hanson who belted two home runs to bring his season total to 15.
Hanson ended the afternoon 4-for-4 with five RBI and tied his career high with four runs scored in the contest. The designated hitter blasted home runs in each of his first two at-bats and also added one walk.
Nick Colina had a 3-for-5 afternoon with two doubles in the leadoff spot. The senior ended his career breaking two program records. He finished with the highest single-season on-base percentage (.496) and most single-season walks (53) in program history.
Zac Corbin was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. The second baseman finished with two walks in the contest.
Jamarie Brooks stayed hot and collected a 2-for-5 afternoon. The freshman also drove in two runs in the victory.
Colina led off the game with a double down the right field line before Hanson launched a deep fly to give KSU a 2-0 lead in the first.
FGCU scored one on a solo shot in the second, but the Owls added two more in the third via the long ball.
Corbin ripped a double that stayed just inside the right-field foul line then Hanson launched his second home run of the game to give Kennesaw State a 4-1 advantage. This was Hanson's team-leading 15th homer of the season and was his 10th in the last 18 games.
The Eagles scored once in the third and three times in the fourth to hold a 5-4 lead, but the Owls scratched two across in the fifth to regain the lead.
Brooks laced a line drive to score Corbin and Chirello reached on an error to bring in the go-ahead score.
After five innings, the score was tied 6-6 courtesy of an RBI sacrifice fly from FGCU.
The Owls loaded the bases in the sixth and took the lead on a single from Hanson. Donovan Cash followed with a sac fly to plate the second run of the inning to give KSU an 8-6 lead.
The bats exploded in the seventh and combined for five runs on four hits. This moved the Owls' lead to 13-6.
FGCU hit a home run in the bottom half to move the score to 13-8, which held as the final due to inclement weather.
Kennesaw State ends the season with a series win over Florida Gulf Coast as the team turns the page to the 2024 campaign.
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.
