MARIETTA, Ga. – Freshman catcher James McGee sliced a walk-off RBI single in the 11^th inning to hurl Kennesaw State (17-19, 7-5 CUSA) past West Georgia (16-18, 7-8 Atlantic Sun) 9-8 Tuesday night at home.

Donovan Cash's home run in the third inning signified the 30^th of his career and dethroned Andy Chriscaden's Division-I career home run record of 29. Cash also surpassed Ronnie Freeman's DI career RBI record earlier this season versus La. Tech on the road (March 30).

How It Happened
The game began with a first-pitch web gem from center fielder Nate Anderson as he made a diving catch in center field toward the infield to steal away a sure hit from UWG.

The next batter for West Georgia launched a solo jack to right field making it a 1-0 game in the first inning. The Wolves strung together six total hits in the inning, posting four runs before the Owls grabbed the bats.

On the first pitch he saw, Anderson unleashed a 393-foot solo bomb, cutting the Wolves lead to three runs.

West Georgia struck again in the second chapter with a single to left field forcing the Owl left fielder to make a quick throw to home plate to prevent the runner from scoring. The throw went awry past the KSU catcher, and the fifth run came in for West Georgia.

Jackson Chirello sent a high-hanging looper over the UWG left fielder's head for a lead-off double in the second. Wesley Alig then battled through a six-pitch appearance earning a walk. With runners first and second, Shamaar McDuffie hammered a single right at the UWG third baseman but an errant throw to first base caused damage. The error scored Chirello from third, birthing the Owl's second run and diminishing the deficit to 5-2.  

Anderson yanked a double near the right field line in the outfield, signifying a lead-off double kicking off the third inning. Cash then left the yard with an opposite-field two-run round-tripper, bringing the game within one run.

UWG tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning expanding to a 7-4 advantage.

To jump-start the sixth frame, McDuffie worked a lead-off walk while Anderson followed up with a stinging single into shallow center field. A wild pitch for UWG advanced both runners into scoring position at second and third base. A passed ball squirted between the UWG catcher's legs and scored McDuffie from third. Cash was set up with another RBI opportunity after surpassing the DI career home run record in the third.

Cash left no doubt on his second dinger crushing another one as his two-run blast was sent 433 feet to left field, giving the Owls their first lead with an 8-7 score going into the late innings.

Both the seventh and eighth stanzas were dim offensively for both sides. Down to its final out, West Georgia clobbered a solo dinger to even the game at 8-8 in the top of the ninth inning.

All was quiet for both sides in the 10^th inning as KSU's side was retired with loud fly outs that were near home runs from Suto and Chirello.

The home half of the 11^th inning began harmlessly but proved to be pivotal for the Owls. After quick back-to-back outs were recorded, Wesley Alig reached base via a walk. One pitch into his plate appearance, a new insert into the game, Chris Cole was beamed by the pitch, moving him to first base and Alig into scoring position.

Freshman Jamee McGee rolled a base hit through the right side of the infield, allowing Alig to come around to score the winning run for the Owls. McGee's first walk-off hit granted KSU the 9-8 victory over West Georgia.

Spotlight Performances

• In walk-off fashion, McGee slashed his third career base hit with his previous knock coming versus Georgia State on February 25. His first career hit also had a hint of drama as he pounded a double to help KSU combat a seven-run deficit versus Columbia (February 22) in the first walk-off victory of the year. McGee solidified a 2-for-5 performance with a walk.
• Cash solidified history with his home run in the third inning. He upended the DI career record holder Andy Chriscaden with Cash's 30^th big fly. He also surpassed Kennesaw State great Terence Norman for eighth place on the DI career hits list with his first-inning single. The infielder was momentarily tied with Cam Suto for the team lead with seven homers this year while he nears his single season high of 10 four-baggers set in 2022.
• Cash sent out another moonshot in the bottom of the sixth inning, marking the first time he's had a two-homer game since his freshman season, doing so against Stetson (May 15, 2022). The Owls have showcased a hitter garnering two home runs in a game in back-to-back matchups (Chirello vs. Sam Houston).
• Anderson has collected home runs in back-to-back games, the first time in his Owl career.
• Halton Hardy was a workhorse out of the pen for the Owls going four innings deep, his longest outing of the year. The senior fanned five Wolves hitters, signaling a career high as an Owl for the righty.
• The Owl offense has plastered 11 home runs over the last four games including four versus the Wolves. They have scored five or more runs in each of the last eight games.
• Owl pitchers surrendered eight hits in the first two innings but locked down the rest of the way, allowing just four in the remaining nine innings.
• Ryan Renfroe was nails in extra innings ending with three frames of work while giving up just one run. He earned the win as he kept the Wolves at bay in the 10^th and 11^th, nabbing three Ks.
• Pitchers Nate Helman and Ethan Osada both had scoreless outings earning a pair of strikeouts each.
• Anderson continues his tear as the reigning CUSA Player of the Week posted a 3-4 day with three runs and two XBH.
• KSU is now 3-1 this season in extra-inning games. 

Next Up
The Owls will protect their home field for a three-game early weekend series versus FIU going from Thursday to Saturday.
 
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