OPENING WEEKEND
GAME NO. 1
KENNESAW STATE (0-0) VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE (0-0)
DATE: FEB 15, 2013
TIME: 4:00 PM
SITE: STILLWELL STADIUM "THE SHAKE"
LOCATION: KENNESAW, GA.
LIVE AUDIO: KSUOwls.com
LIVE STATS: KSUOwls.com
SERIES RECORD: KSU leads, 11-10
LAST MEETING: Apr. 17, 2012 KSU 5 - JSU 3
KENNESAW STATE GAME NOTES
KENNESAW, Ga. – For the fourth consecutive year, the Kennesaw State baseball team will open their season at home in Stillwell Stadium. The Owls will begin the 2013 campaign with a three game series against Ohio Valley Conference affiliate Jacksonville State.
First pitch of the three game weekend is slated for Friday at 4 p.m. E.T. Game two is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. with the conclusion of opening weekend wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m.
All three games will be broadcast live on KSU All-Access, with Nathan McCreary voicing the action. Fans can click on the link at the top of the page or visit KSUOwls.com.
The rotation for the Owls heading into opening day is righty
Travis Dean (Jr. 4-1, 5.60 ERA) against Taylor Shields (Jr. RHP, 0-0, 0.00), lefty
Kevin Kyle (Sr. 3-4, 3.23 ERA) versus Adam Polk (Jr. LHP, 0-0, 0.00) on Saturday, and sophomore newcomer
Will Solomon (LHP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) against Kurt Lipscomb (Fr. RHP, 0-0, 0.00) on Sunday.
The Opponent: Jacksonville State 0-0 (Ohio Valley Conference)
Jacksonville State enters the season picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference behind Austin Peay, and former A-Sun foe Belmont. The Gamecocks roster features 19 returning players from last year's team and 13 newcomers, including five seniors, 14 juniors, five sophomores and nine freshmen.
The two squads have faced off a total of 21 times, with the Owls just edging out JSU with a 11-10 overall record. In four games between the two schools in 2012, KSU won three, outscoring the Gamecocks by a total of 27-16.
All Time Head-to-Head Record:
|
Date |
W/L |
Score |
Overall Record |
|
1989 |
loss |
8-17 |
0-1 |
|
1990 |
win |
5-4 |
1-1 |
|
1990 |
win |
7-6 |
2-1 |
|
1991 |
loss |
3-13 |
2-2 |
|
1991 |
loss |
4-13 |
2-3 |
|
2006 |
win |
7-6 |
3-3 |
|
2007 |
loss |
7-11 |
3-4 |
|
2007 |
win |
7-4 |
4-4 |
|
2007 |
win |
15-2 |
5-4 |
|
2008 |
loss |
2-4 |
5-5 |
|
2008 |
loss |
11-12 (11) |
5-6 |
|
2009 |
loss |
9-17 |
5-7 |
|
2009 |
win |
5-4 (10) |
6-7 |
|
2010 |
loss |
2-17 |
6-8 |
|
2010 |
loss |
4-11 |
6-9 |
|
2011 |
win |
9-6 |
7-9 |
|
2011 |
win |
14-6 |
8-9 |
|
2012 |
win |
13-3 |
9-9 |
|
2012 |
win |
7-5 (13) |
10-9 |
|
2012 |
loss |
2-5 |
10-10 |
|
2012 |
win |
5-3 |
11-10 |
KSU Preview:
Kennesaw State was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches Poll. The 2013 team returns 22 lettermen, including nine position players and 13 pitchers from a last year’s squad that won 34 games and came up just short of capturing the Atlantic Sun Conference title. Thirteen newcomers, highlighted by junior college transfer
Bo Way and 2012 MLB draft selections
Jordan Hillyer and
Alex Liquori, join the veterans.
Top Heavy Pitching Staff:
The KSU pitching staff returns six pitchers that threw 25-plus innings last season and were a part of a staff that posted a 4.10 ERA with 453 strikeouts.
The top six pitchers who posted the lowest ERAs from a year ago return for the Owls. The group includes, starters Steve Janas (Jr., 2-1, 3.13),
Kevin Kyle (Sr., 3-4, 3.23), and
Kevin McCoy (Jr., 1-5, 3.31) along with relievers
James Connell (Jr., 3-0, 0.66) and
Justin McCalvin (So., 3-1, 3.51). The duo helped the Owls record a 24-2 mark when leading after sixth innings.
Owls Offense:
The Owls lineup will be littered with veterans and newcomers. Expected to step up and fill the void of the 2012 power numbers will be senior captain
Peyton Hart, who batted .270 with 32 runs, 14 stolen bases and a .353 on-base percentage, and
Andy Almonte who was named to the A-Sun’s preseason all-conference team after hitting .295 with 11 doubles, 49 runs scored and posting a .411 slugging percentage.
Additional offensive production is expected to come from sophomores
Max Pentecost (.277, 16 2Bs, 3 triples, .364 OBP) and
Chris McGowan (.249, 10 2Bs, .395 SLG%, 32 R).
Andy Almonte Named a Preseason All Atlantic Sun Conference Selection:
Almonte started all 58 games for the Owls in 2012 while maintaining a .295 batting average. He belted five homeruns and tallied 11 doubles while scoring 49 runs and notching 33 RBI. Almonte provided some of his most productive games against the nation’s top teams, going 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and a homerun against Georgia Tech and again against USC Upstate batting 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
Justin McCalvin Named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List:
Redshirt sophomore McCalvin was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award watch list, which is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. McCalvin appeared in 27 games for Kennesaw State (5th in A-Sun) while coming out of the bullpen during his freshman season. He pitched 29.1 and posted a 3.38 ERA. He allowed just 24 hits, including 10 that went for extra bases, while posting a 3-1 record with one save. He struck out 22 batters, and issued only 13 walks as a rookie. This past summer McCalvin was named the Great Lakes' No. 14 prospect after a dominating season, after he allowed only one earned run in 23.2 innings pitched.
Head Coach Mike Sansing Returns For His 22nd Season:
Mike Sansing is back for his 22nd season with Kennesaw State and is the winningest head coach in the school's rich baseball history. Over his career with the Black and Gold, Sansing has taken the Owls to six national tournaments, including his guiding Kennesaw State to a pair of national titles, winning the 1994 NAIA title and the 1996 NCAA Division II crown. Sansing bolsters a KSU career record of 815-400.
Opening Day History:
Since joining the ranks of Division I, the Owls are 3-4 all time in season openers since 2006. The squad fares better at home, staying 500% at 3-3, with a combined 60 hits in the six games. KSU lost last years opening day contest, falling 3-4 to Bradley University in the rain at Stillwell Stadium.
Owls in the Pros:
A total of 49 former KSU Owls have been drafted and signed Major League Baseball contracts. Since making the move to DI, there have been 16 players drafted, including four in 2012. Last season the Black and Gold saw Ronnie Freeman selected in the fifth round (183 overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by Will Howard (22nd – 672), Travis Dean (22nd – 696) and Josh Carr (28th – 874).
In 2009, the Black and Gold has six players selected in the MLB Draft, including the program's highest draft pick in right-handed pitcher Chad Jenkins, who was selected as the No. 20 overall pick in the first round by the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, in the same draft, pitcher Kyle Heckathorn was selected as a supplemental first round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Owls were one of only two programs including the University of North Carolina to have two players selected in the first round.
Others to be selected since becoming a NCAA Division I member are pitchers Bryan Blough, Ryan Rodebaugh, Justin Edwards, Kenny Faulk, Jason Freeman, Mike Bohan, catcher Jace Whitmer, infielder Tyler Stubblefield (twice) and outfielder Josh Whitaker.
The Owls will play 32 of their 55 games at the friendly confines of Fred Stillwell Stadium. Season tickets are on sale for the full 32-home game schedule at $39, a savings of over $100. Single game tickets are also available for $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-12). Group tickets for groups of 10 or more are available for advanced purchase, excluding the Auburn (3-12) and Georgia games (4-2) where individual tickets will be $10 for adults and $6 for youth. To order season tickets
click here, or contact the KSU Athletic Ticket Office at 770-423-OWLS (6957).
Keep up with Owls baseball all season by following KSU on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsBaseball, or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
Kennesaw State University is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
