By: KSU Sports Information Department
NASHVILLE – Kennesaw State will take on a nationally ranked team for the second straight game as they visit the No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Owls (9-3) are coming off a 7-4 loss at No. 24-ranked Georgia Tech on Tuesday night while the No. 2-ranked Commodores (12-1) are fresh off a 12-1 win over Wofford, in what is their largest scoring output of the young season.
Kennesaw State will be facing its third-ever Southeastern Conference opponent as they meet Vanderbilt for the first time. The Owls have played Georgia and Tennessee from the SEC and won games from both teams last year.
The Black and Gold will start junior right-hander Sean Fream (0-0, 12.46), who will be making his second start of the year. Fream made his last start on Feb. 23 at Jacksonville State where he earned a no-decision in Kennesaw State’s 9-6 win.
Vanderbilt is starting freshman left-hander Kevin Ziomek (2-1, 2.19) for the second time this year. The former 13th round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks started against San Diego State on Feb. 19 and pitched five and one-third innings and received a no-decision in a, 7-3, Vanderbilt win.
Ronnie Freeman leads the Kennesaw State offense and is carrying a 41-game hitting streak into Wednesday’s game. The Owls junior catcher tied the program record with his fifth inning single and has the 15th longest hitting streak in NCAA history and the sixth longest Division I streak.
Power-hitting first baseman Aaron Westlake paces the Vanderbilt attack. The junior, who led the Commodores in home runs the past two seasons, is leading the team with a .444 batting average and has a team-high two home runs along with 10 runs driven in on the year.
In addition to the solid play of Freeman, Sean McClurken and Will Howard are entering Wednesday’s contest riding modest six-game hitting streaks. McClurken has been a major plus since being moved to the leadoff spot five games ago. The senior second baseman is hitting .313 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
Howard is batting .417 (10-for-24) during his hitting streak and has raised his average from .167 to .310 in a little over a week. In addition to his three multi-hit games, including a three-hit game against Campbell on Sunday, Howard has scored six runs and driven in four runs with two doubles and a home run.
First pitch between the Owls and the Commodores is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET with the game being carried live on audio at www.ksuowls.com beginning with the pregame show at 4:50 p.m.
Kennesaw State Owls at [2] Vanderbilt Commodores
Wednesday, Mar. 9, 2011 at Hawkins Field | 5:00 p.m. ET
First-ever meeting between the teams
Probable Starters
RHP Sean Fream (0-0, 12.46) vs LHP Kevin Ziomek (0-0, 2.19)
