Kennesaw, Ga. – On Senior Day at Stillwell Stadium, Kennesaw State took advantage of an error to turn a tight game into a game of catch-up for visiting Stetson Saturday afternoon.

The Hatters were unable to answer that call, dropping the second game of the series 9-2 to the Owls. Both teams stand at 25-25 overall on the year. KSU took a step toward their first Atlantic Sun Conference title by improving to 13-4 in the league and reduced its magic number to three. The Hatters, who are guaranteed a spot in the six-team tournament, slipped to 9-8 in league play.

The deciding game of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.

The Hatters took an early lead on KSU starter Gabe Friese (6-1) in the second inning when Kirk Sidwell led off with a double, moved up on an infield single by Will Mackenzie and then scored on a fly ball to shallow right by Austin Hale. Mackenzie had to wait to see if the ball would fall in before running, and was forced out at second, squashing any chance for the Hatters to have a big inning.

It was the bottom of the third when the Owls struck against Stetson starter Adam Schaly (1-5). Back-to-back singles from Grant Williams and Justin Motley opened the frame. After moving the runners up on a sacrifice bunt, Corey Greeson singled both runners home to give the Owls a 2-1 lead. Greeson was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play.

With two out and the bases empty, Griffin Helms singled. Austin Upshaw followed with a pop fly to second base, but Matt Morales dropped the ball, putting two on base for Brannan Morgan. Morgan made the Hatters pay for the mistake with a three-run homer to make it 5-1.

“That big inning was very disappointing,” Hatters head coach Pete Dunn said. “We had given up two runs and were only down 2-1, which is no big deal. We got a pop up that should have been the third out of the inning and misplayed it. The next thing you know Morgan hit a three-run homer.

“That was very deflating for the entire team, and I am sure it was deflating for Schaly, who thought he was getting out of the inning with minimum damage.”

Stetson got a run back in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Fagan to score Cory Reid, but Kennesaw answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

“We know this team does not play catch-up baseball very well – we haven't done that all year,” Dunn said. “They did a great job when they got the lead of continuing to tack on runs to put it out of reach. Even at 5-2, we didn't feel like we were out of it. When it gets to be 7-2 and then 9-2, it is tough.”

Friese went five innings for the Owls, allowing the two Stetson runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts. He gave way to Tony Dibrell for the sixth, and the sophomore no-hit Stetson over the final four innings. He also walked four and struck out five to earn his first save of the year.

“Friese did a great job for them,” Dunn said. “There is a reason he is 6-1. He has done a nice job for them all year. Their pitchers never allowed us to put a big inning together because they made good pitches every time we had a chance to put runs on the board.”

The Hatters managed just five hits in the game, with two of those coming from Will Mackenzie. Morgan had three hits to lead the KSU attack while Alex Liquori, Jeremy Howell, Williams, Motley and Griffin Helms had two each. Helms' second hit of the game was a solo home run off freshman Erik Wiebke leading off the eighth inning.

NOTE: Tuesday's make-up game against Florida State at Melching Field, which was originally scheduled for May 4, will have an early start time of 5 p.m. to allowed for FSU travel needs for their final weekend series. Tickets from the originally scheduled date will be honored on Tuesday.