THE BASICS GAME 1
Records: Kennesaw State (9-13, Canisius (13-8)
Score: Kennesaw State 7, Canisius 15
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Andrew Kneussle vs. RHP AJ Moore
Key Players:  Grant Williams (2-for-4); Garrett Hodges (1-for-3, 2RBI); Forrest Bramlett (1-for-1, 2RBI)
 
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THE STORYLINE: 
· Canisius scored six runs in a four-inning span and took a four-run lead into the final three innings, taking the first game of the twinbill over Kennesaw State at Stillwell Stadium Saturday afternoon.
· Garrett Hodges recorded his first collegiate home run and Brock Turner tallied nine punch outs in relief work, but the Golden Griffins scored 15 runs on 15 hits to earn their first win in the series.
· With the loss, the Owls dropped to 9-13 overall while Canisius improved to 13-8.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
· Hodges, a freshman from Guyton, Ga., answered a two-run second frame from Canisius with a two-run homer in the bottom half to knot the tilt at 2-2.
· The Golden Griffins tallied a run in the third, two more in the fourth and a run in the fifth to push their lead to 6-2, and later led 7-3, as the Owls faced a four-run deficit twice over the course of the game.
· Kennesaw State battled back, clawing within 7-5 with a single run in the fifth and two more in the eighth, as the Owls score five of their seven runs with two outs.
· Turner, a RHP from Colbert, Ga., led the comeback as he worked 3.1 solid innings and tallied nine strikeouts in relief work.
· Canisius, however, scored eight runs in the top of the ninth, putting the game out of reach to take the first game of Saturday's twinbill.
· Offensively, Grant Williams (2-for-4), Hodges (1-for-3, two RBI), Taylor Allum (1-for-5, two RBI), Forrest Bramlett (1-for-1, two RBI), and Chris Erwin (RBI) combined for six of the Owls' hits and drove in all seven runs.
 

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THE BASICS GAME 2
Records: Kennesaw State (10-13), Canisius (13-9)
Score: Kennesaw State 5, Canisius 2
Starting Pitching Matchup: LHP JP Stevenson vs. LHP Mason Ward
Key Players: Mason Ward (career-high IP, win); Jeremy Howell (2-for-4, 2 RBI); Forrest Bramlett (1-for-4, RBI); Griffin Helms (1-for-1, 2 RBI)
 
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THE STORYLINE: 
· LHP Mason Ward's brilliance on the mound secured Kennesaw State at least a weekend series split, defeating Canisius 5-2 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Stillwell Stadium.
· Ward tossed a career-high 8.0 innings, holding the Golden Griffins to five hits and two runs, while a key pinch-hit two-run RBI single off Griffin Helms' bat in the seventh frame scored the game-winning runs.
· With the victory, the Owls improved to 10-13 while the Golden Griffins dropped to 13-9.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
· Ward (2-1) was dazzling from the start, allowing just three hits over his first six innings and limited Canisius to single runs in the third and sixth frames.
· The lefty tallied six punch outs throughout the evening, including five through his first six innings to keep the Golden Griffins' bats quiet.
· The Canton, Ga., native finished his day with a line of 8.0 innings, five hits, two runs, a pair of walks and six strikeouts on 111 pitches to pick up his second victory of the season.
· With Ward rolling on the mound, Kennesaw State's bats broke free when senior third baseman Jeremy Howell hit his first homer of the season, plating a pair to put the Owls ahead 2-1 in the fourth.
· After Canisius tied the ballgame at 2-2, a key pinch-hit single from Helms to left field scored two, giving KSU a lead it would never surrender.
· Leading by three, senior reliever Erich Stahl came in and made quick work in the ninth, picking up his second save of the season in five pitches.
 
#NESTNOTES: 
· Freshman Garrett Hodges tallied his first collegiate home run in the bottom of the second inning in Game 1 of the twinbill, driving in his first two RBI in the Black and Gold uniform.  
· Forrest Bramlett hit his third home run of the season with a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth frame in Game 2. He is tied for third on the team for most HR (Helms).
· Erich Stahl now sits eight saves away from becoming the all-time leader in Kennesaw State D-I history. He has 10 total saves since transferring to KSU a season ago.
· Taylor Allum's streak of reaching base safely has now reached 17.
· Griffin Helms and Corey Greeson have extended their hitting streaks to six games apiece, while Grant Williams enters Sunday on an eight-game hitting streak – which leads the team.
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State wraps up its four-game series with Canisius Sunday afternoon, taking on the on the Golden Griffins at noon on ASUN.TV.