By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Ray Anderson gave Kennesaw State its second walk-off hit in three games as the Owls scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the No. 8-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 7-6, on Tuesday evening before a record-breaking crowd of 1,242 fans at Stillwell Stadium.
Anderson gave the Owls their second-ever win over a Top 10 team when he looped a single over second baseman Mott Hyde’s outreached glove and into right-center field, scoring pinch-runner Chris Wages with the game-winning run.
“I just wanted to make contact and use my speed to make something happen,” said Anderson on the biggest hit of his collegiate career. “This was a complete team effort, we did a great job all night of staying close and we got into a position to win and I am glad I was able to contribute.”
Anderson had been hitting the ball well recently and has raised his average to near .300 after a 1-for-2 night against Tech and a three-hit afternoon against Southern Illinois on Sunday. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and struck out before remaining in the game in center field.
“We wanted Ray’s bat in the lineup late in the game,” said head coach Mike Sansing. “He is a good contact guy and with his speed, we knew that he would stay out of a double play. He has been hitting the ball well lately and I am happy for him that he was able to come up with a big it for us.”
With one out in the ninth inning, Ronnie Freeman was hit by a pitch and Andy Chriscaden walked, one of 11 walks issued by four Georgia Tech pitchers. Drew Fowlkes reached on a slow roller to first base to load the bases before walks to Peyton Hart and Ethan Herron tied the game, setting up Anderson’s dramatic hit.
“Each team gave the other some runs tonight and we played a sloppy game,” added Sansing. “But, like we have done a number of times this season, we fought our way back, were patient at the plate and came away with a big win.”
Kennesaw State (19-12) got a solid performance from starter Travis Dean, who allowed only one earned run over five-plus innings of work. The right-hander scattered four hits and allowed four runs while striking out five batters.
Dean took a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning before he allowed a pair of unearned runs. A botched pickoff attempt scored one run and a base hit to left field was misplayed tying the game at three.
Georgia Tech (23-7), who lost for the second straight time at Stillwell Stadium, went ahead 6-3 with a three-run, three-hit, sixth inning as Jacob Esch sandwiched a double to center field between two sacrifice flies.
The Owls answered back with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning when an error, a walk and hit batter loaded the bases. It looked as if Tech would get out of the jam as reliever Taylor Wood fanned Chriscaden and Fowlkes before Hart worked out a walk on a 3-2 pitch to make the score, 6-4.
J.B. Johnson pitched a hitless ninth inning to earn his second win in the last three games. The right-hander got the win in the Owls come-from-behind win on Saturday against Southern Illinois, and picked up a save on Sunday before helping snap a two-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets.
Catlan Kendrick, who entered the game in the seventh inning in relief of Sean Fream, struck out three batters in an inning and two-third of hitless relief as the Owls held Georgia Tech scoreless over the final three innings. The Kennesaw State bullpen has allowed just one run over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings of their last three games.
The game, which was Prostate Cancer Awareness Night, enjoyed a successful auction as 26 baseball-related items, including game-worn baby blue jerseys raised over one-thousand dollars for the American Cancer Society.
The Owls will head to DeLand, Fla. this weekend for a crucial three-game series with the first-place Stetson Hatters. The series begins Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. and concludes with afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday.
