Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kennesaw State baseball opened its 2022 ASUN Conference schedule with a 7-5 win against Jacksonville on Friday night inside John Sessions Stadium. The Owls (10-6) handed the Dolphins (11-6) their first Friday night loss this season and snapped JU's three-game win streak.
Josh Hatcher had a record-breaking night for the KSU offense. The centerfielder finished 5-for-5 with four doubles to break the KSU single-game record for doubles in a game. The previous mark of three was hit five different times and was last reached by Will Howard versus Jacksonville State in 2012.
Hatcher extended his hit streak to a season-high 11 games and recorded multiple hits for a team-leading seventh time this season. The Mississippi State transfer is one-of-four Owls to start all 16 games and currently leads the team in hits (27), doubles (10), and total bases (37).
As a team, KSU tied its Division I program record with eight doubles in the contest. Along with Hatcher's four,
Brayden Eidson contributed two doubles while
Tyler Simon and
Cash Young each added one apiece.
The offense compiled 12 hits on the evening to mark the eighth time KSU has posted double-digit hits on the 2022 season. The lineup also tallied six-or-more runs for the ninth time in 16 contests.
Simon finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run, double and 3 RBI. The double marked the 40th of his collegiate career. Simon has registered 182 starts during his tenure at Kennesaw State, good for the seventh-most in Owl history.
Eidson has been swinging a hot bat of late, with hits in his last three starts. The sophomore finished with a season-high three hits and two doubles. He also scored two of the Owls' seven runs.
Kennesaw State used a four-run sixth inning to regain the lead and never looked back. The Owls totaled three doubles and one home run, all with two outs in the inning. The four KSU runs are the most the JU pitching staff has allowed in a single inning all season.
After a lightning delay moved first pitch back 90 minutes, the bats got off to a hot start with KSU scoring two runs in the top of the first. Hatcher legged out an infield single on the first pitch of his at-bat and came around to score two pitches later on an RBI double from Simon.
Donovan Cash added to the Owls' lead with a sacrifice fly to record his eighth RBI of the season.
Jacksonville answered and took the lead in the bottom of the first when the Dolphin's first baseman hit a three-run homer to push the score to 3-2. KSU starting pitcher
Jack Myers held Jacksonville scoreless over the next two innings which allowed the Owls to tie the game in the fourth inning.
Myers made his fifth start for the KSU pitching staff in tonight's game. The right-hander finished with four innings pitched, three hits and five earned runs in the contest.
Smith Pinson and
Jared Rine combined to throw the final four innings for the Kennesaw State bullpen. Pinson threw three scoreless innings and allowed zero hits. Rine slammed the door to earn his first save on the year.
The Black and Gold are back in action tomorrow, as the Owls and Dolphins collide for game two of the ASUN opening series. Due to the threat of potential weather, start time has been moved up to 6:00 p.m. inside John Sessions Stadium.
To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State baseball team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook and Instagram.
