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KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State erased a ninth-inning deficit with two runs, stunning Marshall with a walk-off wild pitch to secure a 10-9 victory Saturday evening at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field. 

Trailing 9-8 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Owls (2-0) put runners on the corners before Wesley Alig delivered a game-tying RBI single to shallow center. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Chris Cole raced home on a wild pitch to cap the comeback and send KSU to its second straight win to open the season. 

Kennesaw State launched three home runs in the contest. Charlie Jones delivered a two-run blast in the first inning, becoming the first Owl to homer at Mickey Dunn Stadium, before Aaron Posey added a solo shot to left-center in the third. Cooper Williams tied the game at 8-8 in the seventh with a towering two-run homer to straightaway center. 

Williams led the Owls offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Grayson McCollum followed up his strong debut with a 2-for-4 effort that included an RBI and two runs scored. Six additional Owls recorded hits, including Jackson Bradfield, who tallied the first triple of his career. 

KSU utilized four pitchers, with Nolan Sliver and Harry Cain anchoring the effort late. The duo combined to allow just one run and one walk over the final 4.2 innings. Cain (W, 1-0) entered with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth and retired all five batters he faced to earn the win. 

How it Happened 

• T1 | A pair of two-out RBI singles plated the game's first two runs (2-0, Marshall). 
• B1 | Trenton Lyons led off with a double, and Cooper Williams followed with an RBI single up the middle. Charlie Jones then launched a two-run homer to left-center field to put the Owls in front (3-2, KSU). 
• B2 | Aaron Posey lifted a line-drive solo homer to left-center (4-2, KSU).  
• T3 | A three-run homer put the Thundering Herd back in front (5-4, Marshall). 
• B3 | After Jackson Chirello reached on a fielder's choice, Jackson Bradfield blasted a triple off the building in left field to tie the game (5-5). 
• T4 | Another three-run blast broke the tie in Marshall's favor (8-5, Marshall). 
• B7 | Shamaar McDuffie opened the inning with a double and later scored on a Grayson McCollum single to right. Williams then jumped on the first pitch he saw, launching a two-run homer to center to tie the game (8-8). 
• T8 | A solo blast allowed Marshall to regain the lead (9-8, Marshall). 
• B9 | McCollum singled to open the inning before Williams drew a walk. A fielder's choice from Jones put runners on the corners. Alig then lined an RBI single into shallow center to plate the tying run and move Cole, pinch running for Jones, to third. Cole scored the winning run on a wild pitch (10-9, KSU). 

Notes from the Diamond 

• KSU won in walk-off fashion for the first time since Nate Anderson hit a walk-off three-run home run against New Mexico State on May 2, 2025. 
• Kennesaw State scored 10+ runs in consecutive games for the first time since April 18-19, 2025 against FIU. 
• KSU finished 6-for-13 with runners on base and 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. 
• The back-and-forth affair saw five lead-changes and three ties. 
• Jones' first-inning home run marked the first by an Owl at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field 
• Bradfield recorded the first triple of his career 
• Sliver worked 3.0 innings of two-hit, one-run relief in his first appearance since March 2, 2025, at Samford 

Next Up 

The Owls close Opening Weekend on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. against Marshall. The game will air live on ESPN+. 

The Owls Fund 
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Join The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.