Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



Frankfort, Ky. - Kentucky State University baseball picked up a pair of walk-off wins, 4-3 and 5-4, in a doubleheader against SIAC opponent Albany State University on Saturday afternoon.

KSU will finish off its regular season against ASU tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. as it celebrates Senior Day.

Game 1: KSU 3 ASU 2
Senior pitcher Josh Dunn was stellar early on in the contest for the home squad after the lead-off runner reached on an error, Dunn forced a fly out and struck out the final two batters to get the Thorobreds out of the inning. 

Dunn's strong performance continued through the fifth inning, as he retired 12 straight batters to keep the game tied 0-0.
KSU (17-31, 11-8 SIAC) took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as junior outfielder Elijah Collins blasted a shot to right field to reach first before an errant throw allowed him to reach third. Junior shortstop Justin Stinson reached base on a walk and stole second to give the home team two runners in scoring position. After a wild pitch by ASU, Collins scored to give the Thorobreds a 1-0 advantage, the first lead of the game for either squad.

Dunn remained red-hot on the mound in the top of the sixth, extending his streak of retired batters to 15 following three straight ground-outs.

Dunn's streak of retired batters ended in the top of the seventh after an error by Stinson put a runner on first for the Golden Rams. Dunn also saw his no-hit bid disappear two batters later after a line drive single through the left side moved the runner to third. ASU tied the game up at one after a single to right field drove in the runner from third with a single up the left side gave the visitors a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman outfielder Cameron Hughes led off the bottom of the seventh with a single through the right side before moving to second following a sacrifice bunt by Collins. Stinson drove Hughes in after drilling a ball to left-center field to tie the game up at two apiece, forcing extra innings in the process.

In the top of the eighth with a runner on second and two outs, Dunn struck out the Golden Rams' batter to get KSU out of the jam heading into the bottom half of the frame.

The Thorobreds threatened in the bottom of the eighth, as junior outfielder Jay Poullard rocketed a shot to right-center field, but was thrown out trying to extend the hit to a triple.

In the bottom of the ninth frame, Kelley walked to give KSU a runner on first. Kelley stole second and moved to third following an overthrow by the catcher. The next batter, Hughes, struck out to give the Thorobreds their first out of the stanza. After walks by both Collins and Stinson, senior third baseman Brandon Storey hit a single over the Golden Rams' first baseman to drive home the game-winning run.

Dunn improves his record to 7-5 on the season, allowing no earned runs and striking out six batters in nine innings of work, his tenth complete game of the season. Poullard and sophomore first baseman Cameron Starks each went 2-for-4 while Stinson went 2-for-3 with a RBI and two walks in the game for the home team.

Game 2: KSU 5 ASU 4
Sophomore pitcher Joe Crisp pitched himself out of a jam in the top of the first frame after giving up a double and single to start the inning, forcing a fly out and tossing two strikeouts to get out of the stanza unscathed.

KSU (18-31, 12-8) fell to a 2-0 deficit after giving up a pair of runs in the tops of the second and third until Hughes singled to put a runner on first. After Collins flew out to right field, Stinson belted a single to right field that was bobbled, driving in Hughes from first to cut the visitor's lead to 2-1. During the next at-bat, Story poked a single to shallow center field, causing a collision between the ASU second baseman and shortstop, that drove home Stinson to tie the game up at two apiece. Junior catcher Greg Alexander blasted a shot to left field that was also bobbled, driving in Story before being thrown out after slipping while rounding second to give the home team a 3-2 advantage heading into the top of the fourth.

The Thorobreds' lead was short-lived as the Golden Rams tied the game at three apiece in the top of the fourth frame after a hit to left field drove in the runner at third base.

ASU added another run in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Collins led off the bottom of the frame with a walk before advancing to second off a steal. KSU put runners on first and third after Stinson laid down a beautiful bunt down the third base line. During the next at-bat, Story grounded out to third, advancing Stinson to second to put the game-winning run in scoring position for the Thorobreds. Alexander played hero in the second game, as he slapped a single between the third baseman and shortstop, bring Collins and Stinson home to pick up the second walk-off victory of the afternoon for the home squad.

Freshman pitcher Matthew Oxford improved his record to 2-4 on the season, striking out one in one relief inning. Crisp fanned four ASU batters in his six innings of work on the mound in the no-decision. Alexander went 2-for-4 with three RBI while Stinson went 2-for-4 with a RBI of his own for the Thorobreds.