By: by Mark Toma
Live Stats
KENNESAW, Ga. – Winners of two of its last three games, Kennesaw State will host the Campbell Camels in a key Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Bailey Park.
The Owls (14-11, 0-2 A-Sun) are coming off an impressive win over Georgia State on Wednesday evening, but now must turn their sights onto the Camels. Kennesaw State is looking to get back to the .500 mark in the conference after being swept by Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers over spring break.
“The conference schedule is what it is all about,” said Kennesaw State head coach Scott Whitlock. “We hope to post a good enough conference record to qualify for the postseason and it is important that we play well at home. We have six conference doubleheaders here and it is important they we get off to a good start on Friday.”
Jessica Cross has been solid both in the circle and at the plate for the Owls. She threw a complete game, three-hitter for her eighth win of the season on Wednesday and for good measure added two hits including her team-leading seventh home run. Cross is fifth in the conference in earned run average (1.20) and is in a four-way tie for the conference lead in home runs.
The youthful Owls, who had five freshmen in the lineup against Georgia State, have received solid play from Karlie Gillam at third base as well as strong play from outfielder Jensen Hackett, Hannah Graham who has recently been inserted into the starting lineup at second base, left fielder Sharon Swanson and first baseman Ashlee Burkett. “I’m very impressed at the progress and the contributions our freshmen have enjoyed early in their careers,” added Whitlock. “I really don’t look at them as freshmen anymore. They have a half a season of experience behind them and now we have to look at how we can make them even better.”
Burkett has been enjoying a tremendous start to the season and enters Friday’s doubleheader sixth in the conference with a .360 batting average. The Warner Robbins, Ga. native is also third in the league in total bases and is one of only three players in the conference with at least five doubles, a triple and five home runs.
Campbell (12-16-1, 0-0 A-Sun), who was ranked second in the A-Sun Preseason Coaches Poll, comes to campus having won seven of its last eight games including a split of a doubleheader with Charleston Southern on Tuesday. The Camels have two preseason all-conference selections in pitcher Brittany Stanley and infielder Robin Leathers. However, it has been Lauren Stephan and Sarah Forgacs who have been making names for themselves in the A-Sun. Stephan has hit seven home runs this season and is batting .342 while Forgacs is tenth in the A-Sun in batting with a team-leading .343 mark.
Friday’s game is the first of six conference home games for the Owls. The Black and Gold will host doubleheaders against rival Mercer (Apr. 3), Belmont (Apr. 9), Lipscomb (Lexi’s Day-Apr. 10), Jacksonville (Apr. 29) and North Florida on May 8.
First pitch between the Owls and the Camels is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Bailey Park. For ticket information please visit
http://ksuowls.first-sports.com/ or call 770-423-OWLS.
