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KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State baseball clinched its weekend series against Samford on Saturday, winning 8-3 and 9-8 at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field. The Owls (7-6) scored a combined 11 runs in the seventh and eighth innings of Saturday's contests to take the first two games of the series. 

Game One 

Trailing 3-2 with runners on the corners and no outs when rain halted play in the bottom of the seventh on Friday, the Owls cashed in on the rally, scoring two runs in the inning to take the lead before adding four insurance runs in the eighth. 

The Owls tallied a season-high 13 hits in the stop-and-go affair, led by Wesley Alig, Jackson Bradfield, Grayson McCollum and Cooper Williams, who recorded two hits each. James McGee, Avery Wilson and Williams paced the Black and Gold with two RBIs apiece. 

Daniel Powell (W, 3-0) worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief on Friday night, walking one and striking out two. Harry Cain (SV, 1) emerged from the Owls' bullpen when play resumed on Saturday, needing only 14 pitches to retire all six Bulldogs he faced. Cooper McMullen turned in the longest start of the season by any Owl pitcher, working 5.1 innings with four hits, three runs, a walk and four strikeouts. 

How it Happened 

• T1 | A leadoff single worked its way around the bases, scoring on a wild pitch (1-0, Samford). 
• T3 | The Bulldogs added another run on a solo home run to right field (2-0, Samford).
•  B3 | Jackson Bradfield and Cooper Williams each recorded singles before Williams stole third with two outs. James McGee then laced a single to shallow left field, scoring both runners (2-2). 
• T6 | Samford regained the lead after hitting a leadoff double and a sacrifice fly (3-2, Samford). 
• B7 | After resuming the game, Cooper Williams hit a two-run single into shallow right field, scoring Wesley Alig and Chris Cole (pinch-running for Charlie Jones), who were on base when the rain came (4-3, Kennesaw State). 
• B8 | The Owls plated four insurance runs on four hits, highlighted by Grayson McCollum's two-run double into the right field corner (8-3, Kennesaw State). 

Notes from the Diamond 

• Game one of the series was suspended in the bottom of the seventh inning after torrential rain fell at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field. 
• The Owls' first rain delay of the 2026 season lasted over 18 hours. 
• Saturday marked the first series-opening win of the season for the Owls. 
• Kennesaw State tallied a season-high 13 hits, with nine different players recording a base knock. 
• Harry Cain worked two perfect innings, earning his first save of 2026. 

Game Two 

Kennesaw State slugged its way to a 9-8 victory, belting a season-high five homers in the second game of the series. Jackson Chirello led the Owls' offense with a pair of no-doubt blasts to right field, while Jackson Bradfield, James McGee and Avery Wilson each clubbed a solo shot.  

Jayden Summerville recorded another nice outing on the mound, working 2.1 innings with four punchouts, setting new career highs in both categories. Daniel Powell (SV, 2) needed just nine pitches to retire the Bulldogs in order in the ninth to seal the series win. 

How it Happened 

• B1 | After Cooper Williams walked to open the game, Jackson Chirello blasted a two-run home run to right field (2-0, Kennesaw State). 
• T2 | Samford responded by plating two runs on three hits (2-2). 
• T4 | The Bulldogs again scored two runs on three hits to take the lead (4-2, Samford). 
• B4 | Chirello and McGee blasted no-doubt home runs to right field to tie the game (4-4). 
• T5 | The visitors regained the lead on a bases-loaded walk (5-4, Samford). 
• T7 | Samford extended its advantage thanks to a pair of hits (6-4, Samford). 
• B7 | After Wesley Alig hit an infield single to open the frame, Jackson Bradfield slugged a two-run home run to right center field (6-6). 
• T8 | Samford again scored two runs on three hits (8-6, Samford). 
• B8 | Avery Wilson hit the first pitch of the inning off the scoreboard before Trenton Lyons legged-out an infield single. An RBI double to deep left-center field by Chirello scored Lyons, tying the game for the fourth time. Chirello then took third on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Wesley Alig (9-8, KSU). 

Notes from the Diamond 

• Kennesaw State claimed its first series victory of the year.
• Saturday's five-homer output was a season-high for the Owls and tied the program's Division I-era record for home runs in a single game, doing so for the third time since 2010.
• The last time the Owls slugged five home runs in a game was on April 13, 2025 at Sam Houston.
• After scoring seven total runs in the eighth inning Saturday, Kennesaw State has now scored 26 runs in the frame this season. 
• KSU did not commit an error for just the second time this season. 
• The Owls left just two men on base in the victory. 
• Chirello recorded his second career multi-homer game, while Wilson blasted the first homer of his career. 
• Jayden Summerville worked a career-long 2.1 innings and struck out a career-best four hitters. 
• Wesley Alig extended his on-base streak to 13 games to open the season. 

Up Next 
Kennesaw State looks to capture the sweep when it returns to the diamond on Sunday against Samford. First pitch in the series finale is set for 1 p.m., with the game streaming 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.