KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State (12-10, 3-2 Atlantic Sun Conference) returned to Stillwell Stadium for the first time in 20 days Saturday, splitting a conference doubleheader against FGCU (11-11, 4-1 ASUN) Saturday afternoon.
The Owls dominated the Eagles in the opener in a 10-4 win, improving the squad's record to 4-0 in 2024 in series openers. KSU also moved to 6-0 in games started by pitcher
Braden Osbolt this season. The sophomore collected his third win of the season with five strikeouts.
Game two was highlighted by an eight-inning pitching gem from
Blake Aita tallying just four hits and striking out seven of the 29 batters he faced. The Owls fell 2-1 following a late FGCU rally in the ninth.
2024 All-Atlantic Sun Preseason selection
Spencer Hanson thrilled at the plate with three hits and four RBI. He was joined by
Brayden Eidson who scored three runs with three hits and two RBI Saturday.
KSU is now 8-5 this month.
GAME ONE - Kennesaw State 10, FGCU 4
FGCU opened the game by with a one-run first inning. With bases loaded for KSU in the bottom of the frame, Hanson launched a single to plate
Nick Hassan and Eidson.
Isaac Bouton also scored on the plate following an FGCU error to give the Owls a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice fly from
Donovan Cash scored Hanson later in the inning.
In the second, an FGCU batter hit a ball back to Osbolt, the ball deflected off his glove and into the mit of
Hudson Mimbs who threw to first for an impressive double play.
With Eidson and
Shamaar McDuffie on, Hassan singled to score two more for the home team in the bottom of the second, 6-1. The Eagles added a run in third and two in the fourth to cut their deficit to 6-4.
Bouton answered in the bottom of the fourth with his sixth jack of 2024 to put KSU back up by three, 7-4.Â
In the fifth with bases loaded, FGCU walked McDuffie to score
Jackson Chirello and increase the Owl advantage to four, 8-4. Bases were loaded later in the inning for Eidson, who lined one to right to plate
Jamarie Brooks and
Hudson Mimbs to get KSU to double digits, 10-4.
Osbolt left the game before the sixth inning allowing just three earned runs and striking out five. He earned his third win of the season and is 3-0 overall. Kennesaw State is now 6-0 when he makes the start for the Black and Gold.
Nolan Sliver entered in relief and pitched the final four frames and struck out eight for his first save of 2024 to seal the victory for KSU, 10-4.
GAME TWO - Kennesaw State 1, FGCU 2
With two runners on in the first, Hanson singled just past the second baseman to plate Eidson and put KSU up early, 1-0.
Aita (2-0) cruised through his eight innings of work after making his sixth start of the season. The sophomore never allowed more than one hit in an inning.
Eidson and Hassan both increased their hit streaks to 10 and six, respectively. Hassan has now reached base in each of the last 17 games, the longest active streak by an Owl and the longest on the team this season.
FGCU managed two runs in the ninth to take the 2-1 win.
UP NEXT
The Owls and Eagles conclude their series Sunday, March 24 for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch inside Stillwell Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets
here. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
