LYNCHBURG, Va. – Kennesaw State's (22-21, 12-6 CUSA) bats went supernova thanks to
Nate Anderson's record-breaking eight RBI showcase, sinking the Liberty Flames (25-19, 7-11 CUSA) 15-7 in Sunday's rubber match. Kennesaw State has won each of the last three Conference USA series and has secured eight of its last nine league games.
Nate Anderson was unstoppable as he accrued eight RBI Sunday afternoon, setting a new single-game all-time program record. He also clobbered a solo jack and his second grand slam of the season while scoring four runs on the day.
Donovan Cash has 19 doubles on the season and 53 in his career. He is now tied with Kennesaw State Hall of Famer Max Pentecost for the most in DI program history (53).
How It Happened
The Flames came out on fire, scoring three runs in the first inning.
In the second inning, Liberty strung two more runs together, taking a five-run lead over the Owls.
Pounding his seventh home run of the season,
Nate Anderson sent out a solo tank to right field, bringing Kennesaw State within two runs in the third stanza.
Jackson Chirello singled to left field to begin the top of the fourth inning.
Cam Suto drew a walk and was shortly followed by a
Wesley Alig groundout, advancing both runners.
Hudson Mimbs yanked a dribbler through the left side for an RBI single and the second Owl run of the game. A
Shamaar McDuffie walk loaded the bases for
Nate Anderson to post a crooked score. Anderson twisted a ball past the right field foul pole for a grand slam and giving the Owls a 6-5 lead. The spurt continued as
Chris Cole laced a triple off the left field fence with two outs. Cash then shattered a double off the wall in nearly the identical spot as Cole's, scoring the runner and going up by a pair over the Flames.
The Flames posted another run in the bottom of the fifth due to a throwing error on the Owl double play attempt, making it 7-6 KSU.
Posey notched a lead-off double to begin the sixth frame. After another McDuffie sacrifice bunt, Anderson lined one in the dirt toward the Liberty shortstop, allowing Posey enough time to score from third. The Owls jumped out to another two-run lead with runners on the corners with one out. Cash hammered a bouncer toward third, prevented the double play and scored another run for KSU going up by three.
The seventh inning also smiled upon the Owls as they posted four extra runs. They did so with three hits, including a bases-loaded single from Anderson, who plastered his seventh and eighth RBI of the day, a new all-time school record for a single game. Cole then followed that up with a stinging single into right field, scoring Anderson and Suto for a 13-6 advantage.
KSU and Liberty traded single runs in the bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth, creating a 14-7 game.
A bases-loaded walk to Suto brought across the 15
th run of the day for the Owls in the top of the ninth.
Bo Rhudy stunned the Flames' offense through the last inning, closing out KSU's 15-7 victory.
Spotlight Performances
- Anderson set the new program precedent for all-time single-game RBI with an eight-RBI day. The previous record was seven RBI set four times with the most recent occurrence from Griffin Helms against Grambling State on March 23, 2018.
- Anderson's grand slam is the second of his season as he registered one versus Sam Houston (April 13). It's the third time he has earned four or more RBI this season in a single game and the second time he's had five. It's Anderson's first game as an Owl with two home runs in the same game. The outfielder also compiled four runs along with three hits. It's just the second time Anderson has swiped four runs in a single contest this year.
- Cash has 19 doubles on the season and 53 in his career. He is now tied with Kennesaw State Hall of Famer Max Pentecost for the most in DI program history (53).
- Cole snuck under the radar with four base knocks, the first time he's done so since April 13, 2024 versus Central Arkansas.
- 17 hits are the most from Kennesaw State in a single game this season, with five Owls collecting multi-hit games. The 14-run tally is the second most in conference play for KSU (17 vs. Sam Houston).
- Anderson, Cole and Cash combine for 12 RBI, 10 hits and six extra base hits.
- The Black and Gold have overcome a deficit of four or more runs in seven games this year.
- It's the fifth time in conference play that the Owls have supplied a single inning with five or more runs scored.
- Mimbs nabbed his first two-hit day since May 10, 2024.
- In 28 all-time match-ups between these two teams, it's the largest margin of victory in favor of Kennesaw State.
- The Owls are now 21-0 under Coe's tenure when posting 15 or more hits in a game.
- Relievers Ryan Renfroe, Halton Hardy and Rhudy were stellar in their outings. Combined, they allowed just two earned runs over the final six innings while fanning five Liberty batters.
Next Up
The road stretch continues as the Owls will face No. 10 Georgia in Athens for part two in the midweek action.
