Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Toughness was on display this afternoon as Kennesaw State baseball grinded out an 8-2 win over UNF inside Harmon Stadium. The Owls (26-17, 14-6 ASUN Conference) scored six runs in their final two at-bats to even the series against the Ospreys (17-26, 7-13 ASUN) with the rubber match set for 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.
With two outs in the eighth, Tyler Simon's slide was just in time to beat the throw from the UNF catcher to score on a wild pitch and give KSU a 3-2 lead. UNF would threaten in the bottom half, but Smith Pinson registered a huge strikeout with runners on the corners to preserve the KSU advantage.
The Owls added five runs in the top of the ninth on six hits and one walk. The offense finished with 11 total on the day and saw four starters post multi-hit performances.
John Bezdicek made his 11th start on the mound for the KSU pitching staff. The southpaw tied a season-high with six innings pitched and registered his fourth quality start. Bezdicek allowed two runs on five hits and was credited with a no-decision.
The KSU starting pitcher retired nine batters in-a row- from the first inning through the fourth. He also punched out five consecutive batters during this stretch.
Pinson (4-2) entered in the seventh and threw the final three frames. The freshman was credited with the win and surrendered zero runs while striking out four. Pinson lowered his ERA to a team-best 3.10 and currently leads the Owls with 64 total strikeouts.
Cash Young made an impact in the middle of the KSU lineup. The third baseman went 2-for-5 at the dish with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Young currently leads the Owls with 42 RBI.
Donovan Cash posted a 2-for-5 afternoon and is now tied for the team lead in multi-hit games with 18. The first baseman drove in one run and scored once in the win. With his RBI in the ninth, Cash has posted 11 total in his last seven starts.
Zac Corbin led the Owls with two RBI in the contest. The outfielder finished 2-for-4 and drew one base-on-balls. Corbin tallied his fourth game on the year with multiple RBI and currently leads the team with 24 total walks.
Nick Colina had a productive day out of the seven-spot. The outfielder went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Colina registered his sixth multi-hit game and holds an impressive .400 OBP on the season.
Josh Hatcher, Hudson Mimbs and Spencer Hanson all finished with one hit apiece. Hatcher scored one run while Mimbs registered one RBI in the win. Hanson has posted a hit in six of his last seven starts.
Kennesaw State broke the scoreless tie in the sixth. Young ripped a two-out double to left field and advanced to third on an infield single from Cash. With a 3-0 count to Corbin, Young sprinted home when a wild pitch got away from the UNF catcher. This put the Owls up 1-0 and gave the team its first lead of the series.
After the wild pitch, the Ospreys made a move to the bullpen to face Mimbs. On the third pitch of his at-bat, the KSU infielder slashed a line drive that went just over the leaping effort of the UNF second baseman to score Cash and extend the lead to 2-0.
North Florida struck back in the bottom half and tied the game on a two-run home run from Abraham Sequera. The long ball marked the fifth of the year for the UNF third baseman.
The Owls compiled six runs over the final two innings to pull away with an 8-2 win.
KSU is back in action tomorrow for the finale of its ASUN Conference series with the University of North Florida. First pitch for the rubber match is set for 1:00 p.m. inside Harmon 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.
