LYNCHBURG, Va. - A masterpiece on the bump from senior starting pitcher
Smith Pinson propelled No. 3 Kennesaw State to an 8-0 shutout win over No. 6 Florida International to advance to the 2025 Conference USA Championship semifinals Friday afternoon.
Pinson threw a complete-game shutout, the first by an Owl since 2017 and the first player to do so in the CUSA tournament since 2023, with six strikeouts, allowing just six hits on 104 pitches. It was the first complete game of his career.
The Owls (31-26, 17-9 CUSA) were led offensively by freshman
Wesley Alig who collected a three-hit day and crossed home twice.
Nate Anderson and
Cam Suto also posted multi-hit outings Friday.
Jackson Chirello drove in two runs on a 1-for-2 day at the plate. A five-run first inning set the tone and Kennesaw State never looked back, going wire-to-wire in the elimination game over the Panthers (31-27, 13-13 CUSA).
How It Happened
A sun-assisted double from Anderson got the Owls started in the home half of the first. On his steal attempt of third, FIU's errant throw ventured into the outfield to score Anderson and give KSU a 1-0 lead.
Chris Cole drew a walk in the subsequent at-bat and stole second with
Cooper Williams at the plate. Williams sent one into center to send Cole home, making it 2-0. Alig and Suto followed with singles of their own to load the bases for Chirello, who ripped a ball into right that got past the FIU outfielder to clear the bases and soar the KSU advantage to 5-0 in the first.
Alig led off the third with a double and advanced to third on a single from Suto. Chirello was then hit by a pitch on a 2-1 count to load the bases. All Owls were safe after an infield error scored another KSU run on
Aaron Posey's trip to the plate. Then a sacrifice fly from
Shamaar McDuffie scored Suto to put Kenensaw State ahead 7-0 after three.
Pinson punched out two in the top of the fourth to reach five strikeouts on the day. FIU led off the fifth with a single up the middle but were unable to get into scoring position as the Owls capped the frame with a 6-4-3 double play.
The Owls starter allowed just two hits in the next three innings but still did not allow any Panther runners to advance past first. Kennesaw State took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
Bases were loaded for Alig with two outs in the eighth when he sent a hot shot to third that plated one more run by sending Anderson home, making it 8-0.
Pinson allowed just one final Panther baserunner to put the finishing touches on his pitching gem and advancing KSU to the CUSA semifinals.
Spotlight Performances
- Pinson's nine-inning day broke his personal best, previously 8.0 vs. Central Arkansas in 2024.
- Pinson's complete-game shutout is the first by an Owl since Tony Dibrell on April 7, 2017 vs. USC Upstate.
- Cole drew two walks and was hit by a pitch Friday, improving his reached-base streak to seven games.
- Anderson is tied for the most stolen bases in a single season in DI history with 27. He is one away from breaking the record.Â
- Cash (13) and Anderson (11) both increased their reached-base streaks.
- Suto and Williams now lead the team with active six-game hitting streaks. Williams scored and drove in a run vs. FIU.
Up Next
No. 3 Kennesaw State returns to the field at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24 against No. 2 Western Kentucky. A win over the Hilltoppers would activate a second, win-or-go-home meeting at 4:00 p.m.
Name Your Seat at Mickey Dunn Stadium
Kennesaw State baseball is preparing to take the field inside its new home of Mickey Dunn Stadium next year. Be a part of history by participating in the Named Seat Program, that allows the chance to establish a legacy at Mickey Dunn Stadium. Each individual seat can be named by making a $5,000 commitment payable over a maximum of five years and commemorated by placing the donor's name on the individual chairback seat. Over 300 are available for purchase and will be initially assigned by The Owls Fund priority. Improve the experience of our baseball student-athletes and help KSU achieve national prominence. Click here for more information.
