Box Score (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Jordan Hillyer gave up one run on three hits in eight strong innings to lead Kennesaw State to a 6-1 victory over USC Upstate Thursday night from Harley Park in game one of a three-game series.

Hillyer struck out nine and walked two en route to his fourth win of the season. James Connell pitched the ninth inning and struck out two and allowed one hit.

Kennesaw State used an RBI single from catcher Max Pentecost and a two-run single from right fielder Alex Liquori to score three runs in the third inning to put the Owls ahead 3-0. Second baseman Cornell Nixon led off the inning with a single to center, but Upstate starter Eric Birklund retired Kal Simmons in the following at-bat and erased Nixon off the base paths on a fielder's choice. Kennesaw State, however, used three straight hits thereafter to plate all three of its runs with two outs.

Pentecost registered his second hit of the night and drove in two runs in the process with a single to left in the fourth to put Kennesaw State ahead 5-0. Pentecost finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

Upstate pushed across a run in the eighth inning when Erik Samples picked up his team-leading 25th RBI of the season. Sam Kysor opened the inning with a single to left field and stole second to move into scoring position. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Kysor came around to score when Samples reached on a fielder's choice to third base.

Colin Bennett picked up an RBI single in the ninth inning to account for the final run of the game.

Birklund took the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings of work. Reliever Dylan Parker came on to strike out a career-high eight batters in 5.1 innings on the hill, scattering six hits and allowing one run.

Upstate and Kennesaw State resume a three-game series with game two Friday at 5 p.m.

Follow Upstate baseball all season long on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.