By Jack Herman, Staff Writer
Led by starting pitcher Jordan Hillyer, Kennesaw State was able to secure game one of a three game series over the William & Mary Tribe 3-2 on Friday night.
The Owls’ (10-10) starter dominated from the outset, striking out 13 hitters over eight innings while allowing four hits and two earned runs. Hillyer had issues in the sixth where a few runners reached base, and in the seventh he allowed a game tying home run to right field which made it a 2-2 game. However, Chris Erwin’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh and the bullpen’s strong outing was enough to secure the win to snap a three game losing streak.
“I was able to use my changeup more effectively than I usually am,” Hillyer said. “With my slider not working as well as it usually does, my changeup came up huge for me. I let up a home run late in the game, but that didn’t bother me too much. I knew I could bounce back and push through.”
KSU scored one run in three separate innings. In the third inning, left fielder Erwin pulled a single to right field and scored third baseman Corey Greeson who doubled with two outs to reach base. Then in the fifth, the Owls tacked on their second run when Kal Simmons stole second forcing an errant throw into center field which scored Corey Greeson for the second time.
The Owls finalized their scoring in the seventh when Erwin hit a sacrifice fly into center field, plating Grant Williams for the winning run which made the score 3-2.
Friday night’s game featured two players offensively that were in different parts of the lineup then they usually are. Subbing in the lead off role for Williams tonight against a left handed started was Greeson and in turn that moved Williams to the bottom of the order. The two hitters went a combined 4-for-5, scoring all three runs.
“Usually we use Grant in the leadoff spot against right handed pitchers,” KSU head coach Mike Sansing said. “But since William & Mary had a left handed pitcher starting tonight we thought the matchup would benefit us more if we had Corey leading off.”
Throughout the evening the Tribe was unable to muster much offensively. Five separate hitters for William and Mary struck out two or more times and no hitters registered more than one hit. The biggest blow all game was provided in the seventh when trailing 2-0 designated hitter Ryder Miconi drove one deep over the right field wall to briefly tie the game.
Up until this point of the season, the Owls have featured a closer by committee off sorts as both Erwin and Will Lowman have gotten save opportunities. Tonight Lowman got the call and answered. After allowing a leadoff single, Lowman proceeded to slam the door shut by striking out two and picking off the runner on first to seal the Owls tenth win of the year.
“It was good to see Will go out there and shut the door,” Sansing said. “He was able to secure a big win for us.”
Today at 2 p.m. KSU and William and Mary will square up for game two as Travis Bergen will duel with Nick Brown.
