JACKSONVILLE, FL  – Kennesaw State University pushed across five runs in the opening two innings and the second-seeded Owls then held off a furious Francis Marion University rally to claim a 7-5 win, Thursday afternoon (May 19) in the opening game of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional baseball tournament.

Third-seeded FMU (34-15-1) sees its six-game winning streak end, and the Patriots drop into Friday's losers' bracket game at 11 a.m. against the loser of tonight's game between top-seeded University of North Florida (41-14) and fourth-seeded USC Aiken (39-17).

KSU (36-20) plated three runs in the opening frame and two in the second inning and in the process knocked out FMU freshman righty Dylan Owen (6-4).  Francis Marion was playing for the first time in 25 days.  The Patriots are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 seasons.

Junior shortstop Jason Weaver led FMU with three hits in four at bats, while Quentin Davis and Nick Richardson were both two-for-four with a run batted in.  Richardson opened the sixth inning with his first home run of the season.  FMU entered the contest with only 13 home runs as a team, equal to the season total hit by Kennesaw State first baseman Kevin Gergel.

Luke Ogletree had an RBI fielder's choice and Nick Stewart drilled an RBI double to account for the other Patriots runs.

Thanks to a two-out error in the top of the eighth frame that allowed Richardson to score from second base, Francis Marion pulled to within 7-5.  Following a walk to Weaver, KSU brought in lefty reliever Casey Rogers to face Davis, who batted with the bases loaded.  The count went to 3-0 before Rogers threw two strikes.  With a full count and the runners moving, Davis lined the ball up the middle, but Owl shortstop Ryan Perry made a diving catch to thwart the Patriot rally.

Rogers then retired the Patriots in order in the ninth inning to record his second save.  KSU freshman starter Bubba Blalock upped his record to 7-2 by holding Francis Marion to three earned runs over 6.1 innings.

FMU freshman southpaw Michael Williams relieved Owen in the third frame and allowed only two runs on four hits over the final six innings, saving the FMU bullpen for possible action later in the tournament.

KSU's Ryan Apple drove home a run and scored another on a wild pitch to help stake the Owls to a 3-0 lead. Jon Love drove home Kennesaw's second run with a single through the left side that scored Ryan Perry.  Apple increased the Owl lead to 5-0 in the second inning with a two-out, two-run single.

Stewart's two-out RBI double in the fourth cut the margin to 5-1. Ogletree's grounder scored Omar Quiles in the fifth, drawing FMU to within 5-2.  Richardson's solo shot to lead off the sixth trimmed the deficit to 5-3.  KSU scored in the bottom of the sixth, but Davis' RBI single in the seventh inning again brought the Patriots to within two runs at 6-4.  The Owls answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh to go up 7-4, setting the stage for the decisive top of the eighth frame.

Perry led Kennesaw State at the plate, finishing three-for-four with a run scored.  Apple was two-for-two and drove home three runs, while Matt Nelson was two-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored.

Postgame Quotes

KSU head coach Mike Sansing: "We came out quick and ready to play. Somewhere in the middle innings we lost momentum. I'm not sure if they gained any, but we certainly lost some. Nelson's home run (in the bottom of six), was key to us getting back. I thought the bullpen did a good job especially in the eighth inning. We made a few good pitches to get two pop-ups in a critical time. Ryan Perry made a great play at shortstop."

KSU shortstop Ryan Perry

On his diving play in eighth: "We had a shift up the middle and the pitcher did a great job of battling back from a 3-0 count. I was just about to layout and make the catch."

KSU designated hitter Ryan Apple

On his team's fast start: "We had a huge start which gave Bubba (Blalock) time to just settle in and throw strikes and gain momentum."

FMU head coach Art Inabinet: "We didn't come out well, we didn't pitch, hit or play defense. I felt we played pretty well the last seven innings."

On the line drive to short in the eighth that Ryan Perry caught: "It was a soft line drive. He was making great plays all day. He made three or four that were just phenomenal. "

FMU catcher Nick Richardson

On losing the game: "It is tough, it's not an excuse, but we haven't played in two weeks. We were sluggish and it was really hard to come back. We pulled it together too late. You can never give a team a five-spot."

On coming out of the loser's bracket: "We have a shot, just one game at a time. Regardless of who we play its going to be a good game. I would rather face USC Aiken."

FMU center fielder Quinton Davis

On his line drive that Ryan Perry caught: "I was just trying to stay patient and the shortstop just made a good play. We had momentum and gave ourselves a chance late."

On being in the loser's bracket: "It takes a lot of pressure off of us in the loser's bracket. We have a 50/50 chance against everyone."