CHARLESTON, S.C. - A pair of freshman home runs including a 10th inning grand slam by
Wesley Alig led Kennesaw State baseball to a exciting 9-4 win at The Citadel Saturday afternoon.
After an outfield error by the Bulldogs (11-9) scored the Owls' (8-12) go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, the freshman jumped on a 1-0 pitch for his second collegiate homer to give KSU the win.
He was joined by another freshman -
Jackson Bradfield - who belted a two-run homer of his own to give KSU a lead earlier in the game. Bradfield's long ball was the first of his career. Sophomore
Cooper Williams continued an impressive week with his second four-hit game of the 2025 campaign. He came across home on three separate occasions Saturday and finished a home run shy of the cycle.
Kennesaw State pitching collected eight strikeouts and recorded its third-straight game of allowing just five opposing hits.
How it Happened
Donovan Cash represented the first Owl baserunner after drawing a first-inning walk Saturday. Williams then mashed a ground-rule double to left to put two in scoring position with two outs. The Citadel managed to get the final out before any Owl runs could cross and scored on an error in the first to take a 1-0 lead. They added another in the second to go up 2-0.
In the fourth with one out, Williams' second hit was a speedy triple to set up
Cam Suto. Suto then singled into left center to send Williams home and put KSU on the board, 2-1.
After three scoreless frames,
Chris Cole drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and eventually stole second. Then on an 0-2 pitch, Williams sent one into center to score Cole and even the game at two.
Williams followed Cole's lead and stole second himself moments later. With the sophomore in scoring position, Bradfield crushed a payoff pitch into left to give Kennesaw State its first lead of the day, 4-2.
The Citadel scored two in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extras.
With bases loaded in the 10th, an outfield error during Bradfield's AB scored Cash to give the Owls a slim 5-4 advantage. The bases were still juiced for Alig, who scorched a 1-0 pitch down the left field line and over the fence for a grand slam, giving Kennesaw State a decisive 9-4 lead.
Smith Pinson pitched the final 1.2 frames and forced the game-ending double play to seal the win for KSU, 9-4. Pinson (2-0) was credited with the victory.
Spotlight Performances
- Starter Harry Cain and relievers Ethan Osada and Daniel Powell combined for seven innings allowing just three hits and one earned run with five punchouts.
- Williams' final stat line: 4-for-5, three runs scored, one RBI, one double, one triple and one stolen base.
- Alig's ledger featured a 2-for-5 day at the plate with one run scored and four RBI.
- Bradfield posted a 2-for-5 day with three RBI and two runs scored.
- Nate Anderson's hit streak now stands at 10 games; he has reached safely in 19-straight.
- Cole and Williams have reached base in 12 and 10 games straight, respectively.
- Kennesaw State improved to 4-0 this season when a player has multiple extra-base hits
Next Up
The Owls wrap up their three-game set a rubber match against The Citadel Sunday, March 16 at 1:00 p.m. Fans can catch the action 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.
