Kennesaw State Edges Liberty 9-8 in Game 2, Friday

The Kennesaw State Owls salvaged one game of their three-game series with the Liberty, slipping past the Flames 9-8 in game two of an ASUN doubleheader, Friday evening at Stillwell Stadium.

After winning 9-2 on Thursday, the Flames routed the Owls 18-3 in game one of the doubleheader to take the series.

Host Kennesaw State used a five-run sixth to erase a 5-1 Liberty lead in the sixth, only to see Liberty come back and tie the game in the top of the ninth at 8-8. The Owls then plated a run in the bottom of the ninth for the victory.

Liberty first baseman Logan Mathieu had two hits and lined a single down the left line to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Catcher Gray Betts, who homered in the first game, led off the second game with his third home run of the season. Brady Gulakowski hit his sixth home run as a pinch hitter in the sixth.

Liberty drops to 22-12 overall and 9-6 in ASUN play. Kennesaw State moves to 22-12 overall and 11-4 in the ASUN standings.

Box Score Highlights

Records: Liberty (22-12, 9-6 ASUN); Kennesaw State (22-12, 11-4 ASUN)

Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Stillwell Stadium)

WP: Jared Rine (3-0) | LP: Cole Garrett (0-1)

Scoring Summary

1^st INNING – LIBERTY – Betts homers, 1-0

1^st INNING – KSU – Young singles, Hatcher scores, 1-1

4^th INNING – LIBERTY – Keeter doubles, Foster scores, 2-1

4^th INNING – LIBERTY – Anderson doubles, Keeter scores, 3-1

6^th INNING – LIBERTY – Gulakowski homers, Foster scores, 5-1

6^th INNING – KSU – Eidson singles, Colina scores, 5-2

6^th INNING – KSU – Hatcher doubles, Eidson scores, 5-3

6^th INNING – KSU – Cash homers, Simon and Hatcher score, 6-5

7^th INNING – KSU – Simon singles, Colina and Patel score, 8-5

8^th INNING – LIBERTY – Betts reaches on an error, Mathieu scores (unearned), 8-6

9^th INNING – LIBERTY – Orndorff scores on a passed ball, 8-7

9^th INNING – LIBERTY – Mathieu singles, Lazzaro scores, 8-8

9^th INNING – KSU – Simon reaches on an error, Hassen scores (unearned), 9-8

 Notable Numbers

- Kennesaw State outhit Liberty, 17-9. The Owls committed two errors, while the Flames made one.

- Liberty left 10 men on base. Kennesaw State left 11 men on base.

- Left fielder Three Hillier joined Mathieu with two hits in the contest.

- Cole Garrett, the fourth Liberty pitcher in the contest, takes the loss. He allowed one run on one hit over 2/3 innings of relief.

- Owls’ reliever Josh Rine records the win. He allowed three runs on two hits over the final two innings. He struck out two and walked three.

- Four Kennesaw State hitters had three hits in the contest, including first baseman Donavan Cash who also hit his third home run of the year in the game.

Turning Point

With Liberty leading 5-1 in the sixth, Kennesaw State rallied, plating five runs. After inching closer on an RBI single by right fielder Brayden Eidson and a double by center fielder Josh Hatcher, first baseman Donovan Hatcher hit a three-run home run to give the Owls a 6-5 advantage.

Beyond the Box Score

- Liberty is 3-11 when it is outhit by its opponents in 2022.

- Mathieu records his eighth multi-hit game of the year. The first baseman has had two or more hits in five out of his last seven games.

- Hillier posts his ninth multi-hit game of the season. The left fielder has reached base safely in 18 straight games.

Next Up

Liberty returns home for a contest against the Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday. Game time at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.