By Jack Herman, Staff Writer
After securing a game one victory on Friday, Kennesaw State was able to take game two from UAB, 6-3, on Saturday.
Starting pitching once again headlined the Owls (8-4) win as lefty Travis Bergen pitched into the seventh allowing seven hits, one unearned run and striking out five.
“I thought Travis had good stuff today,” KSU head coach Mike Sansing said. “He didn’t have his best stuff but he found a way to win. He was up in the zone and ran his pitch count up some, but he did well. It is always great when your starter can pitch his way into the seventh.”
The Owls offense was sparked by designated hitter Taylor Allum, who doubled in the first two runs of the day in the second inning after Justin Motley and Alex Liquori each singled. In the sixth, the Owls added a single run when Chris Erwin reached on a fielder’s choice, plating second baseman Grant Williams.
In the seventh inning the Owls found some two-out magic by scoring three crucial runs. Left fielder Chris Erwin tallied his second and third RBIs of the day when he hooked a double down the right field line. Following Erwin was catcher Brennan Morgan, who lined a base hit over the shortstop’s head which brought in Erwin.
“We were able to put some good at bats together and get some important runs,” Sansing said. “It is always great when you are able to add some runs with two outs, especially since it is hard to rally with two outs. Our guys kept battling each at bat and they were rewarded.”
Coming into the day the Blazers (8-4) starter, James Naile, was 3-0 with a sub one earned run average. Naile went seven innings allowing five earned runs, walking two and striking out four. Submarine-style Gavin Niquette came in for one inning of relief striking out two and not allowing a single baserunner.
Relieving Bergen was freshman AJ Moore. Moore came in with two down in the seventh and finished the game from there. The right hander allowed four hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out one. Moore has been a pitcher that the Owls have used out of the bullpen and as a weekday starter this season. Like Bergen, Moore did not have his best stuff, but was able to secure the win for the Owls.
“We see AJ as a guy that will start weekday games and come out of the bullpen for us,” Coach Sansing said. “We didn’t have a weekday game this week so we decided to extend his relief outing. I think as the season progresses we will give him more responsibility, but for now we are going to use him as a weekday starter and a weekend bullpen arm.”
