KENNESAW, Ga. - A pair of stellar pitching performances and clutch hitting led Kennesaw State (28-23, 18-10 Atlantic Sun Conference) to a doubleheader sweep of Lipscomb (21-31, 15-14 ASUN) Thursday afternoon inside Stillwell Stadium.

Led by three RBI from Donovan Cash including his 23rd homer as an Owl, KSU defeated Lipscomb 6-2 in game one with the pitching staff allowing just three hits. He now has four home runs this season. Blake Aita (6-3) dominated the opening game of the series, going 6.2 frames with allowing just one hit, one earned run and striking out eight of the 21 batters faced. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Smith Pinson (3-8) followed him in game two of the doubleheader, pitching 6.1 innings limiting Lipscomb to just four hits and zero earned runs. He struck out six. Brayden Eidson led the way at the plate in the second game with three hits while Jackson Chirello tallied three RBI in the Owls' 7-0 win.

Game two was KSU's first shutout win over an ASUN foe since doing it against the Bisons on April 25, 2021. Lipscomb managed only two runs and eight hits across the two games.

Kennesaw State improved to 11-3 in series openers this season and extended their home scoring streak to 175 games - tied for the third-longest streak in the nation at the conclusion of game two Thursday.

GAME ONE - W, 6-2
Aita got the game rolling with a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 inning retiring the Bisons in order.

Cash kept his hot streak going in the bottom of the inning, launching a three-run jack to right field to give KSU a 3-0 lead. He has now reached safely in each of his last six games.

The Owl defense forced an inning-ending double play to close both the second and fourth innings with Lipscomb at the plate.

Jackson Chirello added one for the Owls in the bottom of the sixth, ripping a single to center to score Nick Hassan from second. Lipscomb added two in the seventh and eighth to cut into the Owl lead, 4-2.

With Hassan and Cash on in the eighth, Chirello sent one through the right side to score the Owl catcher and put KSU back up by three, 5-2.

Corbin brought home Cash with a shot to right of his own, increasing the advantage to 6-2.

Bo Rhudy pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing no baserunners and striking out two to secure the win for KSU and earned his fourth save of 2024.

GAME TWO - W, 7-0
After a scoreless top of the first for Lipscomb, the Owls loaded the bases for Chirello with two outs. The KSU right fielder sent a single into right to score two runs and put KSU up 2-0 early.

Hassan sent a grounder to short in the third that scored Isaac Bouton from third to increase the lead. Chirello scored Eidson on a double down the right field line to make it 4-0.

With two on for the Bisons in the fourth, Pinson forced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to delete the threat.

Luke Cooper entered in relief in the seventh and kept the game scoreless, striking out back-to-back Bisons to end the two-on, one-out jam.

Eidson did more damage for KSU in the seventh, sending a double into right center to score Chris Cole and extend the Owl lead to 5-0.

Cash reached third after a double in the eighth and crossed home after Zac Corbin crushed a 1-0 pitch to deep right to make it 7-0. It was Corbin's third home run of 2024.

Cooper collected the final three outs in the ninth to seal the doubleheader sweep for KSU.

UP NEXT
KSU and Lipscomb conclude the 2024 regular season for the final game inside Stillwell Stadium Saturday, May 18 at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

The final game at The Shake is highlighted by two limited gate giveaways: a 1994 KSU baseball replica jersey koozie and a Stillwell Stadium pennant. The Owls will also honor the Stillwell family and the1994 and 2014 Kennesaw State baseball teams prior to first pitch. Purchase tickets here. Read Full Article