Mike Foster (Sports Editor)
Louisville, Ky– Kennesaw State’s biggest test heading into Game One of Friday’s NCAA Super Regional was getting a lead against Louisville’s ace pitcher Kyle Funkhouser. The Owls passed that test, but lost a one-run lead in the final two innings to fall 5-3 to the Cardinals in the opener of the best-of-three series at Patterson Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Now the Owls, who are no strangers to magical runs, will need a two-game winning streak to punch their ticket to Omaha for the NCAA College World Series.
“We’re coming back with a bang,” KSU freshman second basemen Cornell Nixon, who gave KSU a 3-1 lead when he scored from third off a throwing error, said after the loss.
KSU was nursing a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the 8th when Louisville’s Grant Kay reached on a base hit and advanced to third via a steal and wild pitch from James Connell, who entered with two outs in the previous frame. Connell then walked Zach Lucas before KSU head coach Mike Sansing replaced his reliable late-reliever with closer Justin McCalvin.
The Cardinals Kyle Gibson pulled a successful suicide squeeze and reached to tie the game and put two runners on the bags.
“The placement of it was excellent,” KSU head coach Mike Sansing said of the bunt-RBI. “You have the third basemen in and tell your guys to be alert, but when you put one down in that area it’s difficult to defend.”
After both runners advanced on a ground out, Nick Solak gave the Cardinals a 5-3 lead with a two-RBI double that found the gap in right-center. Solak finished the game with three hits and three RBIs.
Nick Burdi, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, entered in the top of the 9th and recorded the final three outs to clinch the game.
“Everything happened so quickly there at the end,” Sansing said. “We did say there is a tomorrow. We’ve had a great run and still have a lot of confidence.”
KSU’s confidence might stem from the fact it forced Funkhouser, who entered the game with a 1.68 ERA and a 13-2 record, to throw 120 pitches in seven innings. The Owls only had three hits against Funkhouser, who’s fastball was hitting the mid-90s, but worked three runs–two earned–and five walks.
Funkhouser was hot, pitching three-straight 1-2-3 innings, before he walked Kal Simmons and Jacob Bruce to begin the fourth. Bo Way, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim a few hours before first pitch, singled up the middle to load the bases. Chris McGowan singled with a close play at first to score Simmons before Brennan Morgan gave the Owls the 2-1 lead when he reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Bruce.
Nixon added to the scoring in the following frame when he ran to third from second on a wild pitch and scored when catcher Kyle Gibson threw the ball away.
KSU’s starting pitcher Jordan Hillyer bent, but didn’t break, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, four walks and striking out two. Louisville left 12 runners on base during the game, often in scoring position, before finally cashing in in the later innings.
KSU will likely look to the team’s ace Travis Bergen, who is 2-0 in his last two outings, to try to keep the season alive tomorrow.
“We’ve played loose a long time this year,” Sansing said of the team’s approach after falling behind in the series. “We’re not taking anything for granted, so to speak. We’re trying to get to Omaha. We’re not just satisfied with being here.”
The Owls will face Louisville tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Patterson Stadium. The game can be seen on ESPNU.
