Kentucky State University baseball turned in a dominating win over Paine College, 16-5 on Friday morning at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
The Thorobreds (19-32, 12-9) were originally scheduled to take on the Lions, on Thursday afternoon but due to inclement weather, the game was moved to a 9 am start time on Friday. The victory puts KSU in the winner’s bracket facing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Division with Albany State University.
Senior pitcher Josh Dunn found himself in an early deficit as the Lions accounted for four total runs in the first three innings, but KSU answered in a big way in the bottom of the third. Junior shortstop Justin Stinson cut the Lions’ lead in half at 4-2 after a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring senior designated hitter Brandon Kelley and sophomore second baseman Russell Sims. The Thorobreds kept playing add-on, accumulating five more hits in the inning, driving in six more runs for an 8-4 lead, heading into the fourth inning of work.
Dunn settled in with a four lead, as KSU looked to expand in the fifth inning. Senior third baseman Brandon Story highlighted the inning as he drove in his second RBI of the day with a single to the right side, scoring junior center fielder Elijah Collins. By the end of the inning, KSU tacked on five more runs to its lead, taking a commanding 13-5 advantage.
The only remaining blemish against Dunn came in the sixth when he gave up a RBI single. Dunn finished his day with his 11th complete game of the season. He went seven innings, allowed five runs, three earned, striking out three, and didn’t allow a walk.
The Thorobreds scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, capped off by a two-RBI double by Collins, for a final score of 16-5.
Four players recorded multi-hit games including Stinson, Story, Kelley, and sophomore first baseman Cameron Starks. Stinson and Story each had two RBIs along with freshman left fielder Cameron Hughes.
KSU will play at 9 am on Saturday morning, and regardless of a win or lose, will play a second game later in the day at either 3 pm or 9 pm.
by Eric Mathews