KENNESAW STATE (19-10) VS. TROY (18-14)
GAMES 30-31 | MARCH 24, 2015
KENNESAW, Ga. | BAILEY PARK (600)
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
 
THE GAMES:
After five games away from the friendly confines of Bailey Park, the Kennesaw State softball team returns to host Troy in a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday (March 24) with game one starting at 3 p.m. ET and game two beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com for both games on Tuesday at Bailey Park.
LIVE AUDIO: Live audio of Tuesday's doubleheader against Troy be available via KSUOwls.com with Matt Cason on the call.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State softball team on Twitter @KSUOwlsSB to receive updates throughout the game.
 
THE PROMOTIONS:
Tuesday is Youth Day at Bailey Park with a Kennesaw State Owls headband giveaway to the first 300 fans prior to KSU's second game. Kids (12 and under) will also be able to run the bases following the conclusion of game two.

SERIES BREAKDOWN:
Kennesaw State leads, 4-3
Last 5 meetings    
2/8/14         TROY 5-0
4/10/12       TROY 8-0
4/10/12       KSU 1-0
3/22/11       KSU 7-3
3/22/11       TROY 2-1
 
Last Kennesaw State Win         
4/10/12, 1-0, at Troy
Last Troy Win                                    
2/8/14, 5-0, at Troy
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Kennesaw State softball team earned its first Atlantic Sun Conference series win as the Owls went 2-1 against North Florida this weekend in Jacksonville, Fla. The Owls split their doubleheader with the Ospreys on Saturday at the UNF Softball Complex as they won game one, 5-3, before falling 3-2 in game two. KSU then closed the series with a 5-3 win in Sunday's rubber match, as junior Hillary Kartman blasted a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to secure its second-straight series win. Sophomore Taylor Denton led the Owls offensively on the weekend, batting a .600 average with six hits, two runs and two RBIs, while going 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts. Junior Morgan Sikes earned both wins at UNF as she did not give up a run to post a 0.00 ERA and allowed just four hits in seven innings of work.  
 
NEXT UP:
The Owls make the short drive down to Atlanta to take on crosstown rival Georgia State on Thursday, March 26. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex. 
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
Kartman Named A-Sun Player of the Week
Junior Hillary Kartman earned her first career A-Sun Player of the Week accolade after leading the Owls to back-to-back series wins over Furman and UNF last week. Kartman paced the Owls with a .467 batting average on the week, while also totaling seven hits, including a pair of home runs, six RBI, 13 total bases and scoring three runs. She also posted a .867 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage, while starting all five contests. She registered a .833 average with five hits, four RBI and two runs in two games against the Paladins, before providing the game-winning two-run homer in the Owls' crucial 5-3 win over North Florida in Sunday's rubber match.
 
Owls Leading A-Sun in Triples, Saves and Double Plays
As a team, the Owls lead the conference and ranks second nationally with 13 triples, while also leading the conference with five saves and fielding double plays with 15. KSU also ranks 16th in the nation in double plays per game at 0.52.
 
KSU in A-Sun Statistics
The Owls have given up the second-lowest number of walks in the A-Sun, having only allowed 59 walks on the season, while also ranking third in the league with a .291 batting average and a .455 slugging percentage in overall play.
 
Triple Threat
Senior Natalie Rhodes leads the league and ranks second nationally with six triples on the year, while also ranking fifth with 37 hits and is sixth with 25 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. She is also 10th with a .385 batting average. Her 0.21 triples per game also rank fourth in the NCAA.
 
Seeing Double
Junior Kara Chambers also sits in the top 10 in the league in several categories, including ranking in a tie for sixth with seven doubles and seventh with 10 stolen bases and is also ninth with 54 total bases.
 
Stolen Bases
Four Owls have registered eight or more stolen bases this season, with Rhodes leading the way with an 11-of-15 mark in stolen bases. Sophomore Taylor Denton is a perfect 10-of-10 on the year, while Chambers owns a 10-of-12 mark and sophomore Lauren Bennett is 8-of-9 on stolen base attempts.
 
Owls Going Yard
Nine Owls have gone yard on the season, with Kartman leading the way with seven home runs, which sits in a tie for sixth in the A-Sun. Chambers (five), junior Megan Veringa (four) and redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter (three) have also posted multiple homers on the season.
 
RBIs
Kartman also leads the Owls and ranks in a tie for eighth with 25 RBIs on the season.
 
Mathews in the Circle
Senior Paige Mathews paces the Owls in the circle and is 10th in the A-Sun with a 3.11 ERA, while also leading the league with three saves, which sits 11th in the NCAA. She also sits in a tie for sixth with seven wins and is seventh with 58 strikeouts on the season.
 
Keep the Walking to a Minimum
Junior Morgan Sikes and sophomore Logan Viers have only allowed nine walks each this season to rank in a tie for first in the A-Sun in that category, with Sikes' 0.98 walks per seven innings ranking 12th in the nation.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.