KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State remained perfect in series-opening contests in 2024 Thursday night, toppling Austin Peay (15-10, 4-3 Atlantic Sun Conference), 7-5, inside Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls (14-10, 5-2 ASUN) pushed their record to 7-0 in game one of three-game series this season and improved their March 2024 record to 10-5. Austin Peay evened the game in the top of the second at two runs each before KSU posted a three-run fourth and did not look back, evening the all-time series against the Governors at 2-2.
Spencer Hanson notched a hit in each of his first three at-bats including his third homer of the season in the fourth inning.
Catcher
Nick Hassan extended his reached-base streak to 13 games, the best of any Owl this season.
Starter
Nolan Sliver and Pinson Smith (1-5) pitched 8.2 combined innings allowing three hits and two earned runs apiece.
The Govs struck first to open the game and took a 1-0 lead.
After back-to-back singles from
Nick Hassan and Hanson in the bottom of the first,
Nate Anderson doubled to left center to score both and put the Owls in front, 2-1. Austin Peay evened the game at two in the second.
Hanson's second hit came in the form of a no-doubter with a 112 exit velocity to left to give Kennesaw State a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Later in the inning, a two-run jack from
Hudson Mimbs sent Anderson home (following his second-straight game with a stolen base) extended the Owl advantage to 5-2. Mimbs' reached-base streak now stands at six games.
Hassan scored on a wild pith in the bottom of the seventh to push the Black and Gold lead to 6-2. Another run was added in the bottom of the eighth to make it 7-2 on a single from
Shamaar McDuffie that plated Mimbs.
McDuffie extended his reached-base streak to eight games Thursday night. Austin Peay added three runs in the ninth but its rally went no further as KSU secured the 7-5 victory.
Tanner Franklin entered in relief and got a ground ball to collect the final out.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold face the Governors for game two Friday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. inside Stillwell Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the KSU Owl Network and fans can purchase tickets
here.
