Box Score  

Frankfort, KY— Kentucky State University baseball dropped the rubber match of a three-game series with Urbana University, 9-6 on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Knights scored early and often in the opening three innings, pushing across six runs against sophomore starting pitcher Joshua Owsley, adding another against freshman reliever Matthew Oxford in fourth for a 7-0 advantage.

During those first three innings, the KSU offense threatened but sputtered, leaving three runners on base. The fourth proved to be different for Thorobreds as junior catcher Greg Alexander and sophomore right fielder Jay Poullard led off the inning with back-to-back singles to start the rally. Freshman left fielder Vashawn Phillips hit a RBI double, driving in Poullard for the first run of the game for the home squad. Senior second baseman Brandon Kelley followed with a two-RBI single to right, narrowing the KSU deficit to 7-3.

The Thorobreds (5-18) tacked on two more in the fifth as senior third baseman Brandon Story singled to lead off the inning, followed by Alexander hitting a double, advancing Story to third. During sophomore first baseman Cameron Stark's at-bat, Story scored on a balk. Sophomore designated hitter Artie Santomo followed up in the next at-bat driving in Alexander on a sacrifice fly to left, bringing KSU within two at 7-5.

The lead was cut once again in the seventh as Alexander reached base via a walk and later scored as he stole second base and advanced home on a two-base throwing error on the Urbana catcher.

With the Blue Knights hanging on to a 7-6 lead, their offense added two insurance runs on Oxford for a 9-6 advantage in the top of the eighth.

Owsley (1-2) was saddled with the loss, as four of his six runs were earned. Oxford pitched an efficient five innings of out the pen allowing three runs, and only one earned.

Alexander led the offense going 2-for-4 on the day, scoring two runs. Kelley went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Next up, KSU travels to Asbury University on Wednesday for a single game matchup at 2:00 pm ET.