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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State baseball earned two victories over Longwood by scores of 5-4 and 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium. The win gives the Owls (6-5) their first series victory of the season as they aim to sweep the Lancers (6-4) in tomorrow's finale.
KSU overcame an early four-run deficit in game one to earn a 5-4 victory. The offense scored four in the fifth and one in the sixth to move in front and secure the win.
Game two featured dominant pitching from both teams. Blake Aita tossed a career high 5.1 innings and set a new personal best with nine strikeouts.
A balk in the sixth inning scored the Owls first run of game two and a sacrifice fly from Nick Hassan moved the team ahead 2-0 heading to the ninth.
Hudson Mimbs entered with the bases loaded and two outs and got a fly ball to right field to earn the first save of his collegiate career.
The Owls aim for the sweep in tomorrow's series finale starting at 1:00 p.m.
Game 1: Kennesaw State 5 Longwood 4
Braden Osbolt made his third start of the year and threw five innings. The right-hander allowed four runs, all earned and struck out four. He was credited with a no decision in the contest.
Ryan Renfroe (2-0) was the first arm out of the Kennesaw State bullpen. The freshman worked a clean sixth inning with three punchouts to earn his second win of the year.
Tanner Franklin worked a scoreless ninth and added two strikeouts. He earned his second save of the season.
Offensively, Kennesaw State tallied nine hits. The team had three batters record multi-hit performances including Brayden Eidson (3-for-3, run scored and RBI), Isaac Bouton (2-for-4, run scored and RBI) and Shamaar McDuffie (2-for-2, walk and two runs scored)
Other notables included Spencer Hanson (1-for-1, pinch-hit RBI single) and Jamarie Brooks (1-for-2, walk)
Longwood took the lead in the second with a double steal on a first and third play.
The Lancers added one more on the third and two in the fourth to take a 4-0 advantage.
McDuffie led off the KSU fifth with a single and advanced to third on a base knock from Eidson. Bouton then slashed his second double of the season to drive in one and put runners on second and third.
Cash grounded into a fielder's choice to make it a 4-2 ballgame with a runner on third. Hassan followed with a sac fly to cut the deficit to one.
With a runner on third and two outs, Hanson tied the game at four with a pinch-hit single up the middle.
With two outs in the seventh, the Owls took the lead. McDuffie singled then stole second. A throwing error from the Lancers' catcher allowed him to advance to third. Eidson laced a two-strike single back through the box to give KSU a 5-4 advantage.
Franklin slammed the door in the seventh to give Kennesaw State the game one victory in the doubleheader.
Game 2: Kennesaw State 2 Longwood 1
The Kennesaw State pitching staff had a strong outing and posted 13 strikeouts in game two.
Blake Aita made his third start of the year and set career highs in both innings pitched (5.2) and strikeouts (9). The sophomore surrendered zero runs on four hits and was credited with a no decision in the contest.
Bo Rhudy was first arm out of the bullpen and tossed 0.2 innings. The sophomore allowed zero runs and tallied one punchout.
Brayden Eidson entered in a jam but escaped without allowing a run. The left-hander tossed one inning and surrendered one hit.
Tanner Franklin came on for the second time of the day and threw one inning with three strikeouts. The right-hander allowed one run on no hits.
Hudson Mimbs slammed the door in the ninth and recorded the first save of his collegiate career. Mimbs threw the final 0.1 innings of the game.
The KSU offense tallied five hits and were led by Donovan Cash who went 3-for-4. Other notables were Jake Streeter (first career start, 1-for-2 with a walk) and Chris Cole (pinch-hit single).
The Owls took the lead in the sixth on a balk from the Longwood pitcher. With runners on first and third, Jackson Chirello broke early from first and caused the Lancers' pitcher to flinch. This gave KSU a 1-0 lead.
Longwood threatened in the ensuing frame and put runners on the corners with one out. Eidson entered out of the pen and induced two shallow fly outs to end the frame.
Franklin came on in the eighth with runners in scoring position and punched out two batters to keep the Lancers off the board.
The Owls added one in the eighth courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Nick Hassan. The pinch hitter launched a fly ball to deep left with the bases loaded and scored a hustling Makenzie Stills from third base to extend the KSU lead to 2-0.
Mimbs shut the door in the ninth to give Kennesaw State the doubleheader sweep over the Lancers.
Up Next
Kennesaw State baseball is back in action tomorrow for game three of its weekend series against Longwood. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. inside Stillwell Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase by clicking here.
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.
