CHARLESTON, S.C. - Kennesaw State baseball came up just short in a back-and-forth series-opening game against The Citadel Friday night, 4-3.
After a defensive-dominated seven frames, the Owls (7-12) scored two in the top of the eighth to go up 3-1 but the Bulldogs (11-8) managed a rally in the bottom of the inning to take game one. The Black and Gold allowed just five hits Friday for the second-straight game following an impressive start from freshman
Ty Bayer.
How it Happened
Bayer (1-1) threw four looking strikeouts in the first three frames but the Bulldogs managed an early run to take a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth,
Donovan Cash sent his 213th career hit into center for the first KSU base hit of the night.
Cooper Williams followed him by mashing a baseball into right to put two on with one out. With those two on,
Cam Suto smacked a hot shot down the left field line to plate Cash and even the score, 1-1.Â
Bayer struck out a pair of Bulldogs in the bottom of the fifth to set a new career-high of seven. The inning was shut down by
Aaron Posey who threw out a runner attempting to steal second.
Chris Cole led off the Owls' eighth with a speedy double into center. Two at-bats later, Williams smacked a 3-1 pitch into right to score Cole from second and secure KSU's first lead of the night, now up 2-1.
Jackson Chirello scored Williams from second later in the frame to provide an insurance run for Kennesaw State, who led 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. The Citadel took a 4-3 lead in the eighth and held on for the win.
Ryan Renfroe (2-1) was credited with the loss.
Spotlight Performances
- Bayer threw a career-high 5.0 frames on top of his career-best seven strikeouts Friday.
- Bayer's seven punchouts were the most by an Owl in a game this season.
- Reliever Bo Rhudy threw a scoreless two innings allowing no hits or walks while striking out two.
- Williams (2-for-4) posted his fifth multi-hit game of the season. He was the only out to record multiple hits in game one and has reached safely in 10-straight contests.
- Cash is now one hit away from breaking into the KSU Division I career top 10.
- Nate Anderson's hit streak is now at nine games and his reached-base streak improves to a team-high 18.
- Cole has now reached safely in 11 straight, with hits in six in a row.
Next Up
The Owls gear up for game two against the Bulldogs Saturday, March 15 at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
KSU returns to S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field Friday, March 21 for the first of a three-game series against Western Kentucky to open Conference USA action.
