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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - An efficient start by Cooper McMullen and five early runs were all Kennesaw State baseball needed to race past Middle Tennessee, 6-1, at Reese Smith Jr. Field on Friday night.
The Owls (8-6, 1-0 CUSA) struck for two runs in the top of the first inning, giving Cooper McMullen (W, 1-2) a lead that he would not relinquish. The right-handed sophomore totaled 5.0 innings of one-run, four-hit ball with two walks and a strikeout. McMullen gave way to Jayden Summerville (SV, 1) in the sixth inning, and the left-hander closed the game for the Owls. In his Conference USA debut, Summerville tossed a career-long 4.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts, allowing just one hit in his effort.
Trenton Lyons led the KSU offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI double and two runs scored, recording the first three-hit game of his career. Jackson Chirello aided in the offensive effort, totaling a 2-for-5 day with a two-run triple, while James McGee (1-for-3) and Charlie Jones (1-for-1) also recorded base hits. The Black and Gold drew six walks in the victory, its most since Feb. 22 at Florida.
How it Happened
- T1 | After Avery Wilson worked a one-out walk and Trenton Lyons dropped a single into left-center field, Jackson Chirello lined a two-run triple to right-center field (2-0, Kennesaw State).
- T3 | Lyons and Chirello recorded back-to-back one-out singles before Wesley Alig hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Lyons (3-0).
- T5 | James McGee blasted a two-run home run to left-center field, driving in Grayson McCollum, who reached on a throwing error (5-0).
- B5 | A two-out double off the right field wall scored Middle Tennessee's lone run of the evening (5-1).
- T7 | Lyons laced a double into the right field corner to score Cooper Williams, who reached base on a walk (6-1).
Notes from the Diamond
- Kennesaw State won its conference opener for the third consecutive season.
- Ten of the 15 outs McMullen recorded were groundouts
- Summerville earned the first save of his career, working a career-long 4.0 innings to close the game
- Lyons recorded the first three-hit performance of his career
- Chirello's triple was his first of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Chirello extended his hitting streak to five games, going 7-for-19 (.368) with two doubles, three homeruns, seven RBIs and five runs scored over that span.
- Alig's 13-game on-base streak was snapped.
- ATTENDANCE: 890
Next Up
Kennesaw State looks to clinch its first Conference USA series win when it returns to Reese Smith Jr. Field on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4 p.m., with the game airing 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.
