KENNESAW, Ga. – Auburn baseball took on Kennesaw State in two seven-inning games Saturday and swept the Owls with an 8-2 victory in game one and 5-1 win in game two.
The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one and trailed for only a half inning of the 14 innings played.
“We really enjoyed the day. I thought it was really positive. A lot of fans came out, and we appreciate Ryan Coe of Kennesaw State for inviting us up,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “They recently finished a brand-new, beautiful ballpark, so we got one of the first opportunities to play against them in their new park. It was a good day all around, I think for both clubs. We played clean today – offense, defense and pitching. It was positive.”
Honing in on some keys of the fall, the pitching staff poured the ball into the strike zone and walked just three batters in 14.0 innings pitched, not allowing a freebie until the third inning of game two. Offensively, the Tigers put the leadoff batter aboard in eight of 14 innings, accounting for 10 of the 13 runs scored on the day.
Hitters of the Day
Todd Clay collected three hits, including one of the team’s four home runs, and reached four times while driving in a game-high four runs in the doubleheader. He got the scoring started with a two-run single in the first inning of game one to set the tone for the day. His next trip to the plate, Clay hit a two-run homer to extend the lead to 5-0 through three innings.
Cade Belyeu accounted for two extra-base hits, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning of game one, while Chase Fralick caught all seven innings and drove in a pair of runs in the first game. Logan Gregorio also hit a two-run home run and freshman Ethin Bingaman blasted a solo homer in game two.
Pitchers of the Day
Junior lefty Griffin Graves got the day started on the mound for the Tigers and turned in 3.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in game one, leaving the game with a 5-0 lead. Prior to homering in game two, Bingaman made his pitching debut in the opener and struck out the side to close out game one.
Picking up where their pitching mates left off in the first game, transfer hurlers Jake Marciano and Drew Whalen combined to pitch 5.0 innings and struck out four batters apiece in game two.