by Julien Benjamin (Staff Writer)
KSU’s baseball team continued its offensive outbreak on Tuesday, as the Owls defeated Georgia in Athens for the second straight year, compiling 16 hits in a 10-7 victory.
Sophomore Kal Simmons drove in the go-ahead run on a fielders choice in the eighth inning, and in the ninth, added the final two runs of a four run inning with a two-run single to center. These runs proved to be crucial, as closer James Connell was unable to cleanly save the game.
Bo Way led the Owls in hits, with three, and Chris McGowan in RBIs, also with three. In the fifth, McGowan hit the first home run of the season for the Owls, as he blasted the ball well past the right field fence, giving the Owls their first lead of the game.
Owls pitching, which had been generally strong this season, had a rough day, with the exception of Justin McCalvin, who was the only pitcher to record a scoreless appearance on Tuesday; he threw 2.1 innings, striking out three, and earning his first win of the season.
The Owls were down 3-0 early, which led to starting pitcher Chris Erwin being replaced to start the third inning. The Owls bounced back, however, taking a 5-3 lead on the aforementioned McGowan homerun in the fifth. Georgia, however, responded with two runs to tie in the bottom of the inning off of Cole McArthur, who allowed two runs in 3.2 innings.
By the ninth, the Owls had built a five-run lead, but the Bulldogs didn’t quit, and tried to assemble yet another rally in the ninth. Georgia added two runs in the frame and had the bases loaded with just one out, down by three. After a well-timed mound visit by manager Mike Sansing, James Connell struck out the final two batters to record the save.
Six Owls in total recorded multiple hits. The team also stole three bases, with catcher Max Pentecost picking up his first steal of the season.
The Owls next play Savannah State at home on Wednesday.
