By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
ATLANTA, Ga. – After a hectic two days that saw the game between the Kennesaw State baseball team and Georgia Tech be rescheduled twice, on Wednesday evening the Owls fell 11-5 to the No. 11-ranked Yellow Jackets, despite a three hit performance from Andy Almonte and Ronnie Freeman.
For the fourth consecutive game, Kennesaw State (3-5) allowed the opposition to score first. In the bottom of the second inning, Sam Dove reached on an error by the third baseman Andy Chriscaden and was followed by a walk to Chase Butler. A called balk on Owls starter Colton Cross moved runners to second and third before Mott Hyde hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score the games first run. Two more runs would score for Georgia Tech (7-2) before the Black and Gold would get out of the inning, trailing 3-0.
In the top of the third, the Yellow Jackets would again find themselves with the bases loaded. Relief pitcher Nathan Harsh, making his second collegiate appearance, would strike out Hyde, but walked in a run and gave up a bases clearing triple to Kyle Wren that put the Black and Gold further in a hole.
The Owls would fall behind 11-0 before plating their first run in the fifth inning, as Andy Almonte connected with his second home run of the season to put the Owls on the board, 11-2. After a walk issued to Aaron Dobbs and a single by Ronnie Freeman, Chriscaden hit his fourth double of the season to score two more runs to make an 11-4 ball game.
KSU would get another run in the sixth inning on Freeman’s third hit of the game, as the junior singled to left field to score Almonte, who singled through the right side for his third hit of the night. In the end, it wouldn’t be enough, as the Owls fell 11-5 to the Yellow Jackets.
Freshman Cole Pitts got the win, as he threw four scoreless innings, allowing three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Six Georgia Tech relievers finished off the victory, but not before getting touched up by the Owls for five runs on six hits. KSU freshman Cross took the loss as he struggled with his command, walking four batters and hitting another, but did not allow an earned run.
Kennesaw State returns to action on Friday when the team opens a three-game series with Jacksonville State, in Jacksonville, Ala. First pitch on Friday is slated for 4:00 p.m. E.T.
