ALBANY, GA – Freshman Jace Wilson tripled to start the game-winning rally and junior Brandon Mason recorded his first career save as the Kentucky State University baseball team opened the 2019 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament with a 9-7 victory over Clark Atlanta Thursday.

"Today was a back and forth game, but we put together enough good at-bats late to get the result we wanted," said Kentucky State University head coach Rob Henry. "Joe Crisp fought through a good lineup for six innings and Brandon Mason shut the door the last three innings. It was also good to see the guys at the bottom of the lineup in Bryan Wilson, Kevin Givhan and Jace Wilson come through with some big hits. We're looking forward to taking on a really good Albany State team tomorrow."

With the score tied in the bottom of the sixth inning after Clark Atlanta finished its comeback from a five-run deficit, Wilson (Shepherdsville, KY) opened the inning with a triple, and then scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by senior Jay Poullard (Louisville, KY). Kentucky State tallied an insurance run on a RBI single by junior Kevin Givhan (Chicago, IL) in the seventh inning.

Mason (Chattanooga, TN) handled the rest. Entering the game in the seventh inning, the right-handed flame thrower struck out six batters in three inning of scoreless, one-hit baseball.

Starter Joe Crisp, 7-4, (Shelbyville, KY) battled through six innings to earn the victory. He allowed seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits with two walks and five hit batters.

The Panthers took the early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but Kentucky State answered in the bottom half. KSU took advantage of some wildness as the Thorobreds tallied five runs on three hits and three walks, chasing the Clark Atlanta starter before he could tally an out.

A two-out, two-run triple by senior Jordan Ransom (Ringgold, GA) tacked on a couple more runs in the second, and the KSU lead was 7-2.

However, CAU slowly climbed back with three runs in the third, one in the fourth and another one in the sixth.

In his first start in over a month, freshman Josh Graves (Springfield, KY) recorded his third multi-hit game, and is first since March 12, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Senior Cameron Starks (Alpharetta, GA) was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Ransom was 2-for-5 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored.

Kentucky State (27-14-1) plays top-seeded Albany State 10 a.m. Friday at the ASU West Campus Stadium.