By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State's baseball team will make its final push to make the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships this Thursday and Friday as the Owls host East Tennessee State at Stillwell Stadium. First pitch on Thursday is set for 6 p.m., with Friday's doubleheader set for 1 p.m. Senior Day festivities will take place approximately 15 minutes prior to Friday's first pitch.
NOTE: Due to Cobb County graduation ceremonies taking place at the KSU Convocation Center Friday afternoon and evening, patrons attending the Kennesaw State/ETSU doubleheader must mention when parking in the East Parking Deck that they are arriving to attend the baseball games. Otherwise, a fee of $5 will be charged to park in the East Parking Deck.
The Owls are attempting to reach the A-Sun Championships in their first year of full Division I eligibility, but the task is very tall. The Owls will have to sweep the series from the Bucs; the Bucs are attempting to improve their seeding in the A-Sun Championships as currently they are tied with Mercer for third in the standings with a record of 14-10 in conference play. KSU will also have to hope for help from other sources. Mercer (14-10 A-Sun) must sweep Belmont (12-11) and Stetson (13-11) must sweep Jacksonville (12-11). The Owls could still get in if Jacksonville were to sweep Stetson; however, then the Owls would have to hope that North Florida sweeps three-time A-Sun regular season champion Florida Gulf Coast, as the tiebreaker for the Owls and Stetson would be who finished better against the highest-seeded team not involved in the tie.
Ronnie Freeman will enter the series with a 26-game hitting streak. Currently, Freeman has the fifth-longest active streak in Division I. The freshman leads the Owls with a .360 batting average and 45 RBIs.
Ryan Rodebaugh is the projected starter for Thursday night's affair. Rodebaugh has 79 strikeouts on the season, a new career-high. A win would give the junior five on the season and eight for his career.
ETSU is led offensively by A-Sun Player of the Year candidate Paul Hoilman. The junior ranks nationally in home runs (23), batting average (.441) and hits (93). The Johnson City, Tenn., native has 30 multi-hit games on the season and 19 multi-RBI games.
Prior to Friday's contest, the Owls will honor seniors Kyle Clayton, Brad Long, Clint Roques, Micah Sales, and Tyler Stubblefield for their contributions to the KSU program.
