The Owls lost to Georgia 6-4 on Tuesday in a game that left the crowd on the edge of their seat at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field.
The Owls played aggressively, coming out with a hot start. In the first inning, Chris Cole scored Kennesaw State’s first run on a Cooper Williams sacrifice flyout.
Owls Pitcher Daniel Powell threw an impressive second inning, allowing the Bulldogs no runs with bases loaded. In the bottom of the second, the Owls took a 4-0 lead with three runs.
In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs fought back. Four UGA players walked, and the team nabbed two RBIs. Pitcher Ryan Renfroe helped hold the Bulldogs down 4-2 through the top of the sixth, striking out four players. UGA scored in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, keeping the deficit 4-2.
The teams were tied 4-4 going into the final inning after solo homeruns from UGA’s Ryan Black and Slate Alford in the seventh and eighth inning.
In a dramatic ninth inning, UGA pulled ahead with two homeruns, starting the bottom frame up 6-4 against the Owls.
With runners on first and second, Williams stepped to the plate. A homerun would’ve given the Owls a 7-6 victory, but UGA closer Brian Curley, whose pitch reached 100 miles per hour on the radar gun, struck out Williams to record the final out.
While disappointed with the outcome, Coach Ryan Coe understood that this was a challenging game for the Owls as It’s only the beginning of the season, and the team is still finding its footing.
“These guys are beginning to understand the intensity of these games,” said Coe. “I told the guys, as long as you play hard, win or lose, you won’t hear anything from me. That’s all I can ask.’”
The KSU pitchers had solid performances in the game. Powell started off the game on the right foot, going two innings with no runs. Renfroe allowed no runs while on the mound. Pitcher Harry Cain swooped in during the top of the ninth to strike out the last two batters. The KSU pitchers achieved 14 strikeouts during this tough faceoff.
Coe knows that these first games and the team’s losses are only sharpening the players for future wins.
“We’re still in the development phase of the season,” Coe said “As the season goes on, we’ll start winning. This is preparing us for the league we’re going in; it’s a hard league.”
The Owls play in a series against Columbia this weekend.
