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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Bo Rhudy threw five innings of scoreless relief and the Kennesaw State offense produced 17 hits to secure an 8-2 victory over Jacksonville State on Tuesday night at Rudy Abbott Field. The win moves the Owls to 22-17 in the all-time series with the Gamecocks.
Rhudy set career highs in both innings pitched (5) and strikeouts (8) during the contest. The freshman allowed only two hits to mark the third appearance of his collegiate career.
Ryan Renfroe followed Rhudy on the mound and worked a scoreless seventh and eighth with three punchouts of his own.
Tanner Franklin slammed the door in the ninth and was one pitch away from an immaculate inning. The sophomore struck-out-the-side on ten pitches.
Offensively, Kennesaw State collected 17 hits and had seven starters record a base knock. The Owls had five hitters connect for two-or-more hits while four hitters reached the three-hit platform.
Brayden Eidson became the second Owl this season to produce a four-hit game. The outfielder was 4-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored.
Nick Hassan finished 3-for-4 to mark his third multi-hit performance of the year. The catcher recorded one double, one RBI and scored a career-high four runs.
Shamaar McDuffie collected the first multi-hit and multi-RBI game of his career with a 2-for-5 night. The freshman drove in three runs in the win.
Isaac Bouton continued to hit the ball well with a 3-for-5 performance. The third baseman connected for his first double of the season and recorded two RBIs.
Zac Corbin put together his first three-hit game of the season. The Owls' second basemen ended the night 3-for-4 and has hit safely in five of his last six games.
Eidson doubled in the top half of the first and scored on a single from Bouton to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
The Gamecocks answered in the bottom half with two runs of their own to jump ahead.
Hassan led off the KSU second with a single and advanced to third on a base knock from Corbin. With one out, McDuffie ripped a ground ball that bounced off the JSU first baseman and allowed the tying run to cross the plate.
Kennesaw State took the lead in the fourth when Eidson laced his second double of the evening to bring home Hassan. Hassan was hit by a pitch to start the frame and advanced to third on a single from McDuffie.
The Owls added three runs in the fifth to jump ahead 6-2. Jackson Chirello walked and advanced to second on a single from Cash. Hassan slashed a single to bring home the first run of the inning before McDuffie laced his second hit of the night which brought home two more.
Eidson started the sixth with his fourth hit of the ballgame. Bouton followed by ripping his first double of the year to extend the KSU lead to 7-2.
The Owls tacked on one run in the seventh to move ahead 8-2. Hassan belted a double and advanced to third on an infield single from Corbin. He would later score on a fielder's choice for the final run of the game.
Kennesaw State baseball is back in action this Friday for its first home weekend series of the season. The Owls take on Longwood University at Stillwell Stadium with first pitch slated for 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. 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.
