Box Score
LEXINGTON – Braden Osbolt registered a career-high seven innings pitched as Kennesaw State baseball took down No. 25 Kentucky by a score of 13-1 on Friday afternoon inside Kentucky Proud Park. The win gives the Owls (8-6) their second top-25 victory of the season after defeating No. 10 Clemson on Feb. 23.
The results also marked KSU's second-straight run-rule shortened victory after the team defeated Belmont 15-2 in seven innings on Wednesday in Nashville. Today's game was concluded after the eighth due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Osbolt (2-0) registered his second quality start of the season and has now pitched five-or-more innings in three of his four starts this year. The right-hander allowed one run and set a new personal best with eight punch outs in the contest.
KSU has earned victories in all four Friday night games to start the 2024 campaign.
The Kennesaw State offense used an eight run eighth inning to break the game open. The team produced six hits, two walks and a hit batter during the frame.
All nine starters reached base safely and eight-of-nine recorded a base knock in the win. The offense was led by Nick Hassan and Hudson Mimbs who both went for multi-hit games.
Hassan finished 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. He also added his fifth double of the season.
Mimbs ended 2-for-3 with two doubles. The second baseman drove in one run and scored twice.
Other notables were Brayden Eidson (1-for-4, two runs scored), Isaac Bouton (1-for-5, double), Jackson Chirello (1-for-4, run scored and RBI), Spencer Hanson (1-for-4, home run), Nate Anderson (1-for-3, double and run scored) and Shamaar McDuffie (1-for-4, two RBI and two runs scored).
The Owls got on the scoreboard in the third with a four-run inning. Mimbs doubled then advanced to third on a dropped third strike to put runners on the corners. A safety squeeze from Eidson plated the first run followed by a two-RBI single from Hassan which gave Kennesaw State a 3-0 lead.
With two outs in the frame, Chirello slapped a single into left-center field to bring home Hassan and make it a 4-0 ballgame.
Kentucky hit a solo home run in the fifth to pull the score to 4-1 in favor of the Owls.
KSU added on to its lead in the seventh. Jamarie Brooks led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Anderson. Mimbs followed by ripping his second double of the game to bring in a run and move the Kennesaw State advantage to 5-1.
The Owls opened the game up in the eighth when Chirello worked a two-out walk to keep the frame alive. Hanson stepped up next and blasted his second long ball of the year to move KSU ahead, 7-1.
A walk from Brooks, double from Anderson and walk from Mimbs loaded the bases for McDuffie. The freshman slapped a single over the second baseman's head to bring in two and extend the Owls' lead to 9-1.
An infield single from Eidson loaded the bases for Hassan who laced a three-RBI double to move Kennesaw State ahead, 12-1. A Kentucky error plated another run to give KSU a 13-1 lead.
Ryan Renfroe entered in the eighth and worked a scoreless frame to give Kennesaw State the run-ruled shortened victory.
Kennesaw State baseball is back in action tomorrow for game two of its series at No. 25 Kentucky. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcasted live on SEC Network+.
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.
