By: by Scott Lipsky
Live stats Watch Live (A-Sun.TV)
Game Notes
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls softball team will finally showcase their team against conference opponents at Bailey Park this weekend, as they host Stetson on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a pair of doubleheaders. Saturday is Lexi’s Day at Bailey Park.
The Owls (18-12, 2-2 Atlantic Sun Conference) split their first four conference showdowns, a weekend on the road against North Florida, where they won both game, and Jacksonville, where they dropped both. Now, they will challenge the two teams in the A-Sun from the southern half of the Sunshine State, in the friendly confines of Bailey Park.
If the Black and Gold are able to hit this weekend like they did during their sweep of Samford on Tuesday, they should be primed to be pretty successful during the course of these four games. Head coach Scott Whitlock’s club hammered out 30 hits over their two games against the Bulldogs, tying their season-high with 14 in their first game, a, 13-1, five-inning win, and then topped that mark with 16 hits in the second contest, a, 9-3, triumph. Sharon Swanson, who is third in the A-Sun with a .400 batting average, went 7-for-8 during the twin bill with a home run and four RBI.
The key to the Owls success has been the consistency of several players in their lineup when it comes to getting on base. Swanson and fellow Sara Sikes are each working on seven-game hitting streaks heading into the weekend, while Jensen Hackett had a team-season high 10-game streak come to an end in the second game against Samford. Sikes, in particular, has been a sure thing when it comes to setting the table, as she has reached base via a hit, walk or error in 19 consecutive games.
In Stetson (14-17, 0-2 A-Sun) the Owls will be trying to defeat a team that they fell to all three times last season. They dropped both regular season games to the Hatters, 7-3 and 2-1. They then met once again during the season, this time in Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, and took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh before seeing the Hatters score four runs and win the ball game. All-in-all, the Hatters hold a 6-5 all-time series lead.
The Hatters feature junior Chelsey Trotto as an offensive force, as she enters the weekend batting .370 with two home runs and 24 RBI. In the pitcher’s circle, it has been the duo of Camille Czarnecki and Meredith Owen who have made most the Hatters’ starts. Own sports a 2.50 earned run average to go along with her 5-6 record, while Czarnecki is 7-5 with a 3.30 ERA.
Florida Gulf Coast (19-19, 2-0 A-Sun) is finishing up their last season of Division I re-classification, making them ineligible for the Atlantic Sun Conference and NCAA tournaments. They swept Campbell in their first two conference games of the season on the road in their Mar. 26 doubleheader. Most recently, they were swept by Florida International at home, dropping 3-2 and 4-2 decisions on Wednesday.
FGCU has won all six contests against the Owls in their all-time series. Last season, the Black and Gold opened up their conference slate against the Eagles, falling 4-3 in eight innings in the first game before succumbing, 4-2, in the second contest.
The Eagles feature senior outfielder Courtney Platt, who is batting .385 this season with three home runs and 15 RBI as the only FGCU player who is currently above the .300 mark. Fellow senior Catherine McDaniel is the ace in the circle, tossing to the tune of a 1.74 ERA despite an 8-9 record.
Before Saturday’s game, the Marietta Fish Market will be catering a luncheon to benefit the Alexis Kaiser Foundation in the Teasley Suite at Bailey Park beginning at 11 a.m. The Alexis Kaiser Foundation works to raise money for children with exceptional needs and special circumstances. The inspiration for the foundation, eight-year-old Lexi Kaiser, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, will be on-hand, and will present a specially made bicycle prior to the game to another child with a similar condition. Fans can attend the luncheon and also receive a ticket to the game for 10 dollars, with proceeds going to the Alexis Kaiser Foundation.
General admission tickets for both doubleheaders this weekend are six dollars for adults and four dollars for youth in eighth grade or younger. Sunday is Youth Softball Day, offering free admission for all youth softball players wearing their jersey. Admission is free for all KSU students with a valid student ID.
Live stats will be available for both doubleheaders. Fans will also be able to watch the games through the A-Sun's subscription video streaming service, A-Sun.TV.
