By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Aaron Dobbs had four hits and Jordan Craft hit a three-run home run as Kennesaw State pounded out 14 hits in an 8-4 defeat of East Tennessee State in the first game of a critical three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series on Thursday night at Cardinal Park.
The Owls (23-18, 10-8 A-Sun) scored solo runs in the first and third innings as a first-inning triple by Dobbs once again ignited the Kennesaw State offense when Ronnie Freeman drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly. Dobbs would single twice, double and triple as he reached base five times while raising his average to .297 on the year.
“I saw the ball well tonight,” said Dobbs on his season-high four-hit night. “But, we all had good at-bats. We came out with confidence and did what we needed to do to keep the pressure on their pitchers.”
Pitching on short rest, Zac Griffith (7-2) cruised through the first two innings, but in the third he allowed a pair of two-run home runs to Dylan Pratt and Kerry Doane as the Buccaneers took a 4-2 lead.
The southpaw got over the mild blip like a true veteran as he did not allow the Bucs another run until he left the game with one out in the eighth inning. Griffith struck out a season-high seven batters and walked just two in his second-longest start of the season.
“Zac threw very well tonight on short rest,” said head coach Mike Sansing. “Playing in a short park, he had to keep the ball down in the zone and he did a great job of doing that. Even the two home runs he allowed I thought were hit off good pitches.”
The Owls answered back quickly in the top of the fourth inning when Peyton Hart and Sean McClurken led off the inning with singles. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Ethan Herron moved the runners to second and third, Will Howard struck out, setting the stage for Craft.
The Owls right-fielder launched a no-doubt-about-it home run to left field, his fourth of the season, which switched the momentum back in Kennesaw State’s favor and gave the Owls the lead they would hold onto the rest of the game.
“We were hoping for a hit from Jordan,” added Sansing. “And he came through in a big way in a big situation. What we were looking for was a single and two runs to tie the game, but he gave us a home run and the lead. It was a big momentum swing, especially after they scored four runs the inning before.”
The Owls would tack on another run in the inning when Ray Anderson extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a line drive to center field. The hit tied Anderson with Andy Chriscaden and Freeman for the longest hitting streak this season. He would come around to score when Dobbs smacked a double to left field.
“Aaron looked really comfortable at the plate tonight,” commented Sansing. “He was seeing the ball really well and had excellent good plate coverage. Wherever they tried to pitch him, he took what they gave him and had five very good at-bats.”
After adding runs in the seventh and ninth innings, the Owls led by four runs as they entered J.B. Johnson in the bottom of the ninth inning. After allowing a leadoff single to Bo Reeder and a walk to Pratt, Johnson struck out the Buccaneers leading hitter, Derek Trent, and got All-American Paul Hoilman to pop out to first base after a dramatic 10-pitch at-bat. The game ended when Doane flied out to center field.
“J.B. really battled through tonight in a tough situation against the heart of their order,” said Sansing. “We also played an errorless game and never relinquished the lead after the fourth inning. I was really proud of our guys.”
The Owls and the Buccaneers continue their series on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The game can be followed via
live stats and can also be
heard live.
