By: KSU Sports Information Department
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the regular season comes to an end in two weeks, Kennesaw State finds itself fighting for its first-ever Division I postseason berth, and they begin the final stretch run this weekend with a critical three-game series at longtime rival North Florida.
With just six conference games remaining, the Owls (27-21, 13-10 A-Sun) are in fourth place in the conference, just one-half game behind third-place Belmont as six teams are battling for the final four tournament spots.
First-place Stetson and second-place Jacksonville have already clinched a spot in the six-team field. However, just three games separate the next six teams, with four of the teams meeting this weekend. In addition to the Owls and Ospreys match-up, Florida Gulf Coast, currently in eighth place, travels to Nashville to play Belmont.
North Florida (25-22, 13-14 A-Sun) is fighting for its postseason life as they conclude the conference season this weekend. A game under .500 in the league, the Ospreys are teetering on the brink of not making the postseason tournament a year after being the No. 4-seed last season.
Kennesaw State will throw Josh Carr (4-5, 3.66) in the opener against North Florida southpaw Robbie Collier (3-4, 4.53), Bryan Blough (3-3, 3.65) will face right-hander Tyler Moore (4-2, 2.90) on Saturday before Zac Griffith (7-3, 5.22) concludes the series on Sunday afternoon for the Owls. North Florida has not announced their starter for the finale.
The Owls one-two punch of Ronnie Freeman and Andy Chriscaden is being muscled in on by second baseman Sean McClurken and his 12-game hitting streak. The senior has spent time at the leadoff spot, but has been doing real damage at the bottom of the Owls order, where production has been limited this season. Hitting in the seven and eight spots in the order, McClurken is batting .364 (20-for-55) with 11 runs batted in.
The Owls and Ospreys have met 60 times heading into this weekend, with North Florida holding a 32-28 advantage. This weekend will be the most important series the teams have played since North Florida defeated the Owls in the 2005 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regionals. Kennesaw State eliminated UNF from the Division II regionals in 2003, which was Kennesaw State's last appearance in the DII World Series.
The series begins on Friday night at 7 p.m. and concludes with 1 p.m. games on Saturday and Sunday. All three games can be followed via live stats and can be heard live at www.ksuowls.com.
