The Owls nabbed another CUSA win after a tense rubber match against the Flames Sunday.
The Owls soared past the Flames in a high-stakes rubber match Sunday at Worthington Field field in Lynchburg, Virginia to take a hard-fought series win over Liberty.
The Owls had a rocky start to the series’ first game Friday night, allowing the Flames to nab three runs in the first inning.
In the top of the second, Cam Suto sent a rocket over the left field fence, knocking KSU’s deficit to only two runs. The Flames were ready to fight back, however.
In bottom of the third, Liberty scored two more runs with bases loaded on a KSU fielding error. The Flames grew their lead on a sacrifice fly and a solo home run, attaining a 6-1 advantage by the fifth inning.
Chris Cole stepped up to the plate, to begin a scoring streak for the Owls. A Cole two-RBI double scored Nate Anderson and Shamaar McDuffie. Cole then scored on a wild pitch, unearned.
With a deficit of only 7-4, the Owls continued to rack up runs in the sixth inning.
Wesley Alig and Aaron Posey started off the inning with two walks, and Owls loaded the bases as McDuffie was struck in the back by a pitch.
Alig scored on a fielder’s choice, then Donovan Cash doubled to left center, scoring Anderson and Posey. Jackson Chirello laced the ball into right field, scoring Cash and Cole and giving the Owls a 9-7 lead.
Liberty took a final stab at the win, scoring an unearned run on a throwing error and getting home on a sacrifice fly by the bottom of the seventh.
Tied 9-9, KSU capped off the game with an RBI double play by Cash, scoring Anderson.
Pitcher Bo Rhudy slammed the door on the Flames, striking out two batters and not allowing a hit, giving the Owls the first win of the series.
Saturday’s game was a slow burn for the Owls.
KSU started the game by scoring Anderson on a Cash single, bringing in his 40th run of the year.
Liberty answered immediately in the bottom frame, tying the score 1-1. After two quiet innings, Liberty nabbed another run in the bottom of the fourth with bases loaded on a sacrifice fly.
Liberty continued to tack on runs in the top of the fifth, scoring on an RBI double and a two-run home run. Down 5-1, the Owls scrapped to make a comeback in the top of the sixth. Cash sent a missile to center field, adding a solo home run for the Owls.
Liberty drove another run in on an RBI double, bringing the score to 6-2 in bottom of the seventh. In a last-ditch effort by the Owls, Cash hit his second home run of the game – but it wasn’t enough. The Flames nailed down the 6-3 victory as they held KSU scoreless through the top of the ninth, tying the series 1-1.
The Owls came into Sunday’s rubber match looking to take a third straight Conference USA series. Yet again the beginning looked uncertain for the Owls as the Flames took an early lead.
In the bottom of the first, Liberty gained a 3-0 lead on a single, a fielder’s choice, and a sacrifice fly. By the third inning, the Owls grew weary as the Flames nabbed two more runs of a two-run home run to go up 5-0.
Down by 5, the Owls forged ahead for a comeback. Anderson started off KSU’s bats in the top of the third as he cracked a solo home run into right field.
In the top of the fourth, the Owls bats caught fire, starting off with a Hudson Mimbs single to score Chirello.
The game would soon turn around for the Owls as Anderson stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. Anderson crushed the ball into deep right field for a grand slam to put KSU in front 6-5. Then, a Cash double scored Cole, bringing the Owls to a 7-5 advantage.
Liberty nabbed a run in the bottom of the fifth on an Owls fielding error, bringing their deficit to only 7-6.
In the bottom of the sixth, Posey scored on a fielder’s choice, followed by a Cash RBI, plating Anderson.
KSU continued their scoring streak in the seventh as Anderson singled through left field, bringing home Mimbs and Suto. This meant Anderson brought in his eighth run of the day – a new record for single-game RBIs in the KSU baseball program.
Up 11-6, Cole smashed an RBI double, scoring Anderson and McDuffie. Liberty and KSU traded singles in the bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth, allowing the Owls to double the Flames’ score at 14-7.
In the final inning, a Suto walk with loaded bases sealed the lopsided 15-7 victory for KSU as McDuffie crossed the plate.
The Owls officially secured their fourth series victory in the CUSA.
The Owls will play Georgia at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday for their next non-conference game.
