By: by Scott Lipsky
Live stats Game Notes
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls are home once again on Tuesday afternoon, hosting the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers at Bailey Park at 4 p.m. The game is a make-up of the doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Mar. 30, but was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Owls (21-18, 5-5 Atlantic Sun Conference) had been struggling offensively heading into Saturday, but broke out in a big way on Saturday at Campbell, scoring 17 runs in five innings on their way to a 17-1 rout. Jessica Cross would hit two home runs in the game, including a grand slam in the first inning in a game in which they set their all-time high mark for runs in an A-Sun game. Cross went yard in the second game, an 8-4 Owls loss, as well, to cap off a great Saturday for her at the plate. She was also clutch in the pitcher’s circle, nabbing the win in the opener with a one run, five strikeout performance in her complete game effort.
Cross and sophomore Sharon Swanson have been the main cogs for the Owls offense as of late, as they rank third and tied for first, respectively, in home runs in the A-Sun, with Swanson currently fifth in the conference at .362 and leading the league with 40 RBI. Cross is eighth in that category with 29.
Currently sitting at 5-5 in the A-Sun and in the fifth seed spot should the A-Sun Tournament begin today. They travel to Georgia State for another non-conference game on Wednesday before playing four crucial home games against conference opponents USC Upstate and East Tennessee State on Friday and Saturday.
In UAB (28-10, 11-1 Conference USA) have won six out of their last seven games, most recently splitting a home doubleheader with Chattanooga on Thursday, dropping the first game, 11-3, before winning the closing match-up, 1-0. The Blazers currently lead the Conference USA standings, and are buoyed offensively by senior outfielders Caley Walden and Sallie Van Kirk, who come into Tuesday batting .341 and .333, respectively. It has been the trio of pitchers in sophomore Lauren Webster, freshman Leigh Streetman and senior Alisha Smith who have kept the opposition at bay, sporting a combined earned run average of 1.40, Webster leading C-USA with a 0.86 ERA to go along with her 10-2 record.
UAB currently holds a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series, having swept last season’s doubleheader in Birmingham, 7-0 and 4-2 on Apr. 5. They swept the Owls in the only other time they came to Bailey Park on Apr. 22, 2009. The Black and Gold won the first-ever meeting between the two teams, 5-2, on Feb. 19, 2008. Cross, a freshman at the time, hit a home run in the ball game to help the Owls to a win.
The first 200 fans to arrive at Bailey Park on Tuesday will receive a souvenir Owls beverage mug. Admission to the doubleheader is six dollars for adults and four dollars for youth in eighth grade or younger. Admission to all KSU athletic events is free for all students presenting a valid KSU student ID.
Live stats will be available throughout Tuesday’s action.
