By Mason Wittner, Staff Writer
Pitching was the focal point for both squads in Kennesaw State’s 2-1 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs Wednesday.
KSU starter AJ Moore (2-1) excelled on the mound as he allowed five hits, four walks and one earned run in seven innings pitched.
“I thought he did well,” KSU head coach Mike Sansing said. “We needed to get a starter deep into the game. He pitched extremely well tonight and kept us right there.”
The bullpen comprised of Logan Hutchison and Will Lowman combined for only one hit in the final two innings.
“[Our bullpen] has been a key for us,” Sansing said. “If we can manage that a little bit we’ll be good, because in that seventh, eight inning things get tight.”
The Owls (20-17) jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Kal Simmons’ RBI single scored Grant Williams from second base to put the Owls up 1-0.
A pair of KSU errors put the Bulldogs (20-18) in position to threaten in the top of the fifth inning as they loaded the bases with one out. UGA’s Skyler Weber was forced out at the plate in a fielder’s choice before the inning ended on a strikeout.
Williams extended the Owls lead in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single that scored Alex Liquori, putting KSU up 2-0.
The Bulldogs scored in the top of the sixth inning behind a two-out RBI double from Skyler Webber to cut their deficit down to 2-1. Moore got the next batter to ground out, getting the Owls out of a jam as UGA stranded runners on second and third.
Hutchinson escaped a scare in the top of the eighth inning as he had the tying run on third base with one out. He received the second out through a pop-out to the shortstop, while his third came by way of a strikeout looking.
Lowman faced four batters in the ninth inning and the game ended on a strikeout looking.
“I thought our guys played well tonight,” Sansing said. “It was obviously a 2-1 score, and in those kind of situations everything is [about] big plays and big at-bats. Fortunately we were able to get it done and get the two runs.”
KSU will host Atlantic Sun Conference foe Florida Gulf Coast (19-18-1) in a weekend series beginning Friday.
