#24 Jackson Chirello homers against West Virginia on Mar. 1 at Mickey Dunn Stadium. Photo courtesy of KSU Athletics
Baseball grabbed its first series win at home in conference play over the weekend with a sweep over Sam Houston State at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field.
“Hopefully we keep our momentum going here,” coach Ryan Coe said. “Obviously we struggled early, but this team’s a very talented team. Some other guys have stepped up, and that’s what we needed.”
The series opener on Friday began with SHSU jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double in the first inning. The Owls responded in the bottom half and tied the game up on an RBI single by Cooper Williams.
The Bearkats stretched their lead to a commanding 4-1 lead in the second inning before KSU tied it up once again in the third, first on a Jackson Chirello solo home run, and followed by an RBI single by Trenton Lyons and a groundout that scored Williams.
Chirello put the Owls in front for the first time of the evening on a two-run homer, his second of the game, giving KSU a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning.
A solo homer for SHSU in the seventh concluded any offense for both sides, and the Owls took game one 6-5.
On Saturday, KSU was down 3-1 in the fifth when Lyons doubled to cut the Bearkat lead in half. The Owls took their first lead of the game on a two-run home run by Chris Cole, going up 4-3 in the seventh inning.
SHSU responded quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning, capped off by a two-run homer by Nathan Fink. The bats of KSU refused to cool down, taking and keeping the lead after a three-run home run by Chirello, securing the series and a 7-6 game two victory.
Looking to complete the sweep, the Owls offense stayed red hot on Sunday afternoon.
Shamaar McDuffie got KSU on the board for the first time in the second inning on a two-RBI single. Chirello then stretched the Owl lead to 5-0 in the third inning after his three-run home run.
A pair of RBIs by Williams and Lyons respectively gave KSU a commanding 7-0 lead after six innings.
Even with a huge lead, the Owls weren’t done yet. McDuffie hit another two-RBI single in the eighth, finishing off his four-RBI afternoon.
Later in the inning, Lyons crushed a three-run home run to right center field, completing the run rule and giving KSU a 12-1 victory in the series finale.
Chirello finished the weekend with four home runs and nine RBIs, coming up clutch in big moments for the Owls.
“He’s talented enough that he can carry us down the stretch, and that’s what he did this weekend,” Coe said.
Harry Cain also gave a great performance on the mound on Sunday, completing seven innings of five-hit baseball, allowing no earned runs and striking out seven batters.
KSU will look to extend its win streak in the non-conference midweek matchup against Georgia State on May 5.
