By: by Scott Lipsky
Live Stats
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls softball team continues their Atlantic Sun Conference schedule on Saturday when they host in-state rival Mercer in a doubleheader at Bailey Park on the campus of KSU at 1 p.m.
Kennesaw State (15-13, 1-3 A-Sun) hopes to bounce back from Wednesday night’s 8-3 loss to No. 8 ranked Georgia. Senior outfielder Kelsey Kulk provided the offensive spark for Scott Whitlock’s club in Athens, hitting her first two home runs of the season.
Prior to Wednesday, they split a doubleheader against Campbell on March 26 in their first games at home in 2010 against an A-Sun opponent.
Redshirt sophomore Jessica Cross has made her presence felt both in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate this season. The Tunnel Hill, Ga. native is currently tied for the lead in the A-Sun in home runs with eight, and is in sixth place in earned run average at 1.41, with a record of 9-4.
Not far behind her offensively is freshman first baseman Ashlee Burkett, who is seventh in batting average in the conference, hitting at a .347. She has hit safely in 14 of her last 17 games.
Mercer (18-16, 1-1 A-Sun) are coming off of a doubleheader split on the road against Samford this past Tuesday. Their only A-Sun games so far this season occurred on March 27 against Campbell, splitting a doubleheader against Campbell.
The Bears have been led this season by junior outfielder Anna Johnson and senior outfielder Holly Oglesbee, who lead the club with batting averages of .319 and .318, respectively.
Junior pitcher Kari Chambers enters Saturday with the eighth best earned run average in the A-Sun at 1.83, to go along with a record of 4-3. Their most prolific starter, however, has been fellow junior Jenni Holtz, who is 12-9 on the season and is coming off of a complete game shutout against Samford, which included 11 strikouts.
Historically, the Owls have been very successful against the Bears, leading the all-time series, 12-4. Mercer gained the upper-hand last season, however, sweeping a doubleheader in Macon on March 21, 1-0 and 5-1. Prior to last season, the Owls had won five of the last six meeting between the two squads.
First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live stats will be available.
