KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Cooper Williams snapped a personal skid with a three-run home run in the sixth inning, lifting Kennesaw State to a 12-6 victory over Missouri State on Saturday afternoon at Fred Stillwell Stadium.

The Owls, who entered the day with a 25-26 record, avoided a three-game sweep after dropping the first two games of the Conference USA series by identical 5-3 scores. Missouri State fell to 32-18.

Williams, who had gone 0 for 4 Friday and 1 for 5 in the series opener, finished 2 for 4 with four runs batted in. His go-ahead homer in the sixth broke a 6-5 lead and sparked a decisive outburst.

Kennesaw State seized momentum early. In the first inning, Charlie Jones belted a three-run homer to left field, scoring Trenton Lyons and Williams. The Owls led 3-0 after one.

Missouri State answered in the third. Curry Sutherland doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Caden Bogenpohl.

Kennesaw State answered in the bottom of the third. Jamarie Brooks singled in Jones to push the lead to 4-1.

The Owls added two more in the fourth. Lyons singled in Josh Gibbs, and Jackson Chirello drove in Shamaar McDuffie with a groundout, making it 6-1.

Missouri State erupted in the fifth. Taeg Gollert crushed a three-run homer to left field, scoring Logan Fyffe and Sutherland. Jax Ryan followed with a solo homer to left center. The Bears cut the deficit to 6-5.

Williams seized control in the sixth. After singles from McDuffie and Lyons, Williams hit a three-run homer to right field, giving Kennesaw State a 9-5 lead.

Missouri State trimmed the margin in the seventh. Fyffe scored on Gollert’s sacrifice fly, making it 9-6.

Kennesaw State broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh. Trenton Lyons singled in two runs, and Williams added a run-scoring single, stretching the lead to 12-6.

Missouri State’s pitching staff used five arms. Brody McNiel threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Lance Wade tossed a perfect eighth inning. Max Knight retired two batters with one strikeout. Bears pitchers combined to allow 12 runs on 15 hits.

Kennesaw State used four pitchers. Peter Jezerinac threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Nate Helman allowed one earned run in 2 1/3 innings. Daniel Powell and Cole Royer finished.

Lyons went 4 for 5 with three RBIs. Jones drove in three runs. Gollert was 2 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs. Ryan had two hits, including a solo homer.

The Bears racked up 13 hits but stranded eight runners. Kennesaw State’s 15 hits included two doubles and three home runs.

Williams rebounded from a rough weekend. He was 0 for 4 Friday and 1 for 5 in Thursday’s loss. Before that, he had gone hitless in his previous two games at Jacksonville State.

Missouri State had won five of its previous six games before Saturday. The Bears entered the series after taking three of four from New Mexico State.

Kennesaw State snapped a four-game losing streak in conference play. The Owls had dropped series against Jacksonville State and Louisiana Tech earlier this month.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kennesaw State 6, Missouri State 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Missouri State a 53.40 percent probability to win.