By: by Scott Lipsky
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ATHENS, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls will put their talents on the line against one of the top teams in the country on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., when they visit the No. 4-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, their last non-conference game of 2011.
Wednesday’s game will be the fourth for the Owls (28-22, 11-11 Away) against a team ranked in the top 25 nationally this season. On Feb. 23 they defeated Georgia Tech, then ranked No. 22 in the NFCA poll, 4-1 at Bailey Park. The hosting Yellow Jackets were ranked No. 25 when the two teams met again on Apr. 6, and prevailed over the Owls, 6-1. The Black and Gold also visited the then No. 4-ranked Arizona Wildcats, falling, 8-0.
“Whenever you have the chance to play against one of the best teams in the country, on their home fields, it’s something to be fortunate to be able to take advantage of,” Owls head coach Scott Whitlock said. “We’re excited for the challenge. Competing against a team like this can only be a positive thing for us.”
Last week’s performance during their four-game road stretch was a story of consistently solid pitching and a feast or famine offense. In their first doubleheader, two tightly-contested losses to Lipscomb on Thursday, the Owls allowed a total of three runs to Bisons, with Jessica Cross and Amanda Henderson both turning in excellent efforts in the pitcher’s circle. They would be unable to score in either game, however, falling, 2-0 and 1-0.
Things were completely different in their second twin bill the following day, as Cross and Abbey Meixel both tossed complete game shutouts while the offense went wild, scoring 15 runs over the two games in 9-0 and 6-0 victories. Cross was the catalyst for both of the wins, pitching a one-hitter in the first game and facing the minimum 18 batters in the six-inning shutout while going a combined 4-for-7 with two home runs and five RBI.
In Georgia (40-7, 30-2 Home), the Owls find a team that is currently No. 1 in the NCAA RPI rankings and just had a seven game winning streak snapped on Saturday at Arkansas. The only games they have dropped on their home field, Jack Turner Stadium, was a pair of games against Tennessee on Apr. 6.
The Bulldogs are led at the plate by senior and two-time All American Alisa Goler. The infielder enters Wednesday batting .377 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI. Their other major run producer is fellow senior infielder Brianna Hesson, who has 12 home runs and a team-leading 49 RBI to go along with a .368 batting average.
In the circle, the Bulldogs depend on the dynamic duo of sophomore Alison Owen and freshman Morgan Montemayor, who have combined for 32 of Georgia’s 40 wins this season.
The Owls have seen success against the Bulldogs in the past, and are 2-2 all-time against them. They fell in Athens in their last meeting, 8-3, on Mar. 31 of last season. Both of their victories over Georgia came in a doubleheader sweep of the Bulldogs in Kennesaw back in 1997, when the Owls were still playing at the Division II level.
Live stats will be available for Wednesday’s game.
