KENNESAW STATE (4-3) vs AUBURN (6-1) Feb. 26
KENNESAW STATE (4-3) vs ALABAMA STATE (7-1) Feb. 27
TIME: 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM
SITE: Plainsman Park
LOCATION: Auburn, Ala. - Montgomery, Ala.
LIVE AUIDO: KSUOwls.com
LIVE STATS: AUBURNTIGERS.COM
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting Auburn
SERIES RECORD: 10-0 vs Alabama State
Game Notes
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball team will travel to Alabama for a pair of midweek matchups against Auburn and Alabama State, beginning with the Tigers on Tuesday at Plainsman Park.
The Owls will look to stay perfect in 2013 against the South Eastern Conference (SEC) as KSU dropped No. 29 Georgia last week. The win over the Bulldogs, coupled with a three game sweep over Jacksonville State propelled the Black and Gold to a top ranking in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) that was posted at WarrenNolan.com.
Steve Janas (R. So. 0-0, 0.00) will return to the mound on Tuesday after throwing three innings of scoreless baseball against UGA. In his first outing of the season, Janas didn’t allow a hit and recorded two strikeouts in the Owls 2-1 win. Throwing against KSU will be Dillon Ortman (Jr. RHP, 0-0, 1.69, ERA).
On Wednesday the Owls will travel to Montgomery, Ala., to take on the 7-1 Hornets. KSU owns a lifetime record of 10-0 against ASU, outscoring the Hornets 122 – 29 dating back to the first contest in 2006. The two schools squared off twice in 2012 with the Owls winning both.
THE OPPONENT:
Auburn was selected to finish sixth in the SEC West. Off to a great start to begin the 2013 campaign, the Tigers are 6-1with their lone loss coming at the hands of Middle Tennessee State.
Alabama State enters the week 7-1 having registered a no-hitter on opening day against Chicago State. The Hornets also picked up a win over A-Sun rival Mercer last week, shutting out the Bears and winning 4-0.
LAST TIME OUT:
Kennesaw State is coming off a 0-3 weekend against Radford at home. The Owls dropped all three of the weekend games by a combined five runs to fall to 4-3 on the season.
SERIES HiSTORY:
Kennesaw State and Auburn will square off for the first time.
Kennesaw State vs. Alabama State
|
Date |
Win/Loss |
Score |
Record |
|
2006 |
Win |
9-0 |
1-0 |
|
2006 |
Win |
14-6 |
2-0 |
|
2007 |
Win |
12-0 |
3-0 |
|
2007 |
Win |
13-5 |
4-0 |
|
2008 |
Win |
15-0 (7) |
5-0 |
|
2008 |
Win |
9-3 |
6-0 |
|
2009 |
Win |
13-0 |
7-0 |
|
2009 |
Win |
12-9 |
8-0 |
|
2012 |
Win |
14-2 |
9-0 |
|
2012 |
Win |
9-4 |
10-0 |
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 819-403.
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 26 of their remaining 48 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.
