ATLANTA- Visiting Kennesaw State piled up 14 hits to defeat Georgia State, 14-6, Tuesday night at the Field at Panthersville as the teams split their season series, each winning on the opponents' home field.
The Panthers slipped to 27-12 on the year while Kennesaw State improved to 22-18. It was the Panthers' first loss of the season against an in-state opponent, falling to 4-1.
Mark Micowski led the Panthers with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Brett Maxwell and Shane Hammond added two hits apiece for GSU.
The Owls took a 2-0 lead in the first off Panther starter Sam Agnew-Wieland when Ronnie Freeman poked an RBI single and Sean McClurken drew a bases loaded walk.
The Panthers responded with two runs of their own in the first on Ryan Fleming's two-run triple off the wall in right field that scored Micowski and Maxwell.
KSU added to their lead with two runs in the second inning and one in the third, to climb back in front, 5-2.
Micowski scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 5-3, then Brandon Williams drove in Maxwell with a sacrifice fly to right to make it a one-run game.
The Owls struck again in the fourth, this time with three unearned runs, aided by a Panther error. After another bases loaded walk and Ethan Herron's single to center field scored McClurken and Drew Fowlkes, the visitors found themselves up 8-4.
Aaron Dobbs then singled, stole second and scored on an error for KSU to make it 9-4 in the fifth. KSU scored three more times in the seventh on two RBI singles and a wild pitch, making it 12-4.
Andy Chriscaden's two-run homer in the ninth pushed the lead to 14-4.
Micowski added two more RBIs in the ninth inning for GSU, scoring Carter Sackett and Condotta with a single to finish the evening's scoring.
Owls starter Catlan Kendrick (2-0) earned the win, while Agnew-Wieland (2-1) took the first loss of his Panther career.
The Panthers return to Colonial Athletic Association action with a three-game series at Northeastern (11-21, 6-9 CAA), Friday through Sunday.
