KENNESAW STATE (3-0) at UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (1-2)
DATE: FEB 20, 2013
TIME: 5:00 PM
SITE: Foley Field
LOCATION: Athens, GA.
LIVE AUIDO: KSUOwls.com
LIVE STATS: GeorgiaDogs.com
SERIES RECORD: UGA leads, 7-4
LAST MEETING: Mar. 6, 2012 KSU 2- UGA 3
Game Notes
KENNESAW, Ga. – Following a three game sweep over Jacksonville State to open the 2013 season, the Kennesaw State baseball team (3-0) will travel to Athens, Ga. to take on in-state rival Georgia on Wednesday at Foley Field, with first pitch slated for 5 p.m.
The game 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 starting pitchers for the mid-week showdown are David Gonzalez (Fr., 0-0 RHP), who will be making his collegiate debut for the Bulldogs against Steve Janas (So. 0-0 RHP). Janas will be making his first appearance in 2013 for the Owls after throwing only 37.1 innings in 2012. Janas bolstered a 2-1 record and a 3.13 ERA in seven outings.
THE OPPONENT: University of Georgia (1-2) (South Eastern Conference)
Georgia opened the 2013 season at Georgia Southern, dropping two out of three games to the Eagles. The weekend forced the Bulldogs out of the latest top 25 rankings, as they were out scored 19-9 in the series, allowing a total of 12 runs in the first two frames.
Georgia was selected to finish fifth in the Eastern Division of the 2013 SEC baseball preseason poll.
THE SERIES:
The two squads have faced off a total of 11 times, with the Bulldogs leading the all time series at seven games to four. In the only meeting between the teams in 2012, UGA hit a walk-off single in the ninth to best the Owls 3-2. Dating back to 2010, the series is knotted up at 2-2 heading into this years' home and home schedule.
ALL TIME HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES:
|
Date |
W/L |
Score |
Record |
|
2006 |
Loss |
3-11 |
0-1 |
|
2006 |
Loss |
7-8 |
0-2 |
|
2007 |
Win |
3-2 |
1-2 |
|
2008 |
Loss |
5-12 |
1-3 |
|
2008 |
Win |
8-6 |
2-3 |
|
2008 |
Loss |
2-6 |
2-4 |
|
2009 |
Loss |
7-11 |
2-5 |
|
2010 |
Win |
11-1 |
3-5 |
|
2011 |
Win |
12-8 |
4-5 |
|
2011 |
Loss |
4-9 |
4-6 |
|
2012 |
Loss |
2-3 |
4-7 |
RECAP vs. JACKSONVILLE STATE:
In the three game opening series of the 2013 season, the one-two combination of
Jacob Bruce and
Bo Way went 5-12 with one home run apiece to lead the Owls to a weekend sweep. Bruce bat totaled five RBI while Way tallied three. Adding to the offensive mix was freshman
Kal Simmons, who went 4-11 at the plate with five RBI’s and one double.
The pitching staff held up their end of the deal as the starters combined for a 1.95 ERA, while only allowing nine hits. Sophomore
Justin McCalvin, who was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List, has appeared in two games for the Owls and has recorded one save with two strikeouts without giving up a run.
2013 KSU PREVIEW:
Kennesaw State was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches Poll. The 2013 teams returns 22 lettermen, including nine position players and 13 pitchers form a last year’s squat that won 34 games and come 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 part of a staff that posted a 4.10 ERA with 453 strikeouts.
The top six pitchers who posted the lower 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 six 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 AN ATLANTIC SUN PRE SEASON ALL CONFERENCE SELECTION:
Almonte started all 58 games for the Owls in 2012 while maintaining a .295 batting average. He belted five home runs 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 home run against Georgia Tech and again against USC Upstate batting 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
JUSTIN McCALVIN NAMED TO THE NCBWA NATIONAL 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 818-400.
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 29 of their remaining 52 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.
