By: by Scott Lipsky
Live Stats
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State softball faces Belmont and Lipscomb Friday and Saturday in crucial doubleheaders against Atlantic Sun Conference foes. Belmont visits at 3 p.m. on Friday, while Lipscomb makes the trip to Bailey Park on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Kennesaw State (17-16, 3-3 A-Sun) will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak while at the same time attempting to keep their momentum in conference play, in which they have won three of their last four games. They swept Mercer in a doubleheader, 4-3 and 9-5, to pull themselves up to .500 in the A-Sun, and they are currently fifth in the conference standings.
At the end of the regular season, the top six teams in the standings qualify for the A-Sun Championship, which will take place in DeLand, Fla., May 13-15. This is the first time the Owls are eligible for the conference championship tournament after the athletic program successfully completed the NCAA’s mandatory, four-year, Division I re-classification process.
The two triumphs over Mercer were followed by disappointment during the week. First came a doubleheader sweep at the hands of UAB on Monday in a make-up of the two team’s originally scheduled meeting on March 2. Then yesterday, after leading 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh against Tennessee Tech in Chattanooga, the Owls allowed three runs in the final frame to drop a tough decision, 6-5.
This weekend’s opponents have gotten off to drastically differing starts to their 2010 season. Belmont (6-30, 2-6 A-Sun) finds themselves toward the bottom of the A-Sun standings, and is mired in a stretch in which they have lost five of their last six games. The Bruins are not to be taken lightly, however, as they swept the Owls in last year’s doubleheader with a pair of tight, 1-0 victories. Overall, the Owls narrowly lead in the all-time series, 4-3. Ashley Smith and Ashley Byers lead the way with a pair of .271 batting averages, while has seven home runs and 23 RBIs to rank in the top-15 in the A-Sun in both categories.
The Lipscomb Bisons (31-7, 8-0 A-Sun) have been the toughest team in the conference thus far. Their play has garnered national attention, as they are ranked 25th this week in the Ultimate College Softball Top 25. They lead the A-Sun in just about every major statistical category, including batting average (.326), earned run average (1.28), on-base percentage (.373) and runs scored (209). The only major offensive category that they do not lead in is home runs, where their 31 round-trippers rank second to the Owls, who have 33 heading in Friday. The two squads are tied in their all-time series, 3-3, after splitting last year’s doubleheader in Nashville.
Sophomore Whitney Kiihnl has been the best all-around player in the A-Sun in 2010 so far. She is second in the conference in earned run average at 0.63, and her .402 batting average is tops. Not far behind her is teammate Abby Keese, who is second at .397.
The Owls have weapons of their own, with freshman Ashlee Burkett riding a four-game hitting streak and batting .361 to rank eighth in the conference in batting average. Kennesaw State’s league-lead in home runs is thanks in large part to Jessica Cross, who has nine and is tied for the league-lead with Keese and Florida Gulf Coast’s Courtney Platt. Burkett and senior Jenna Closner have also provided a lot of pop with six round-trippers apiece.
Saturday is Lexi’s Day at Bailey Park. All proceeds earned at the gate and from concessions will go to the Alexis Kaiser Foundation, an organization that raises money for kids with Cerebral Palsy and other special needs. $10 gains each fan admission to the ballpark and a lunch, courtesy of the Marietta Fish Market, beginning at 12:30.
