KENNESAW STATE (29-14, 10-5) VS. FLORIDA GULF COAST (22-24, 5-10)
GAMES 44-45 | APRIL 18, 2015
KENNESAW, Ga. | BAILEY PARK (600)
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
 
THE GAME:
The Kennesaw State softball team returns to Bailey Park to celebrate Senior Day and close out the 2015 home schedule as the Owls host Florida Gulf Coast in their second-to-last Atlantic Sun Conference series with a doubleheader on Saturday (April 18) starting at 12 p.m. ET. Friday's single game, which was originally to be played on Sunday, has been cancelled due to weather in the area. The Owls will honor seniors Natalie Rhodes and Paige Mathews prior to game one on Saturday.
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com for Saturday's doubleheader at Bailey Park.
LIVE AUDIO: Live audio of Saturday's doubleheader against Florida Gulf Coast will 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:
Saturday's doubleheader will serve as Senior Day 2015 as the Owls celebrate seniors Natalie Rhodes and Paige Mathews prior to game one. KSU softball will also be hosting a crawfish boil in conjunction with KSU baseball. Fans are encouraged to "Recycle for a Free Meal" with any person who brings two recyclable Coca-Cola ® products receiving a free meal.
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN:
Florida Gulf Coast leads, 14-5
Last 5 meetings    
5/8/14         FGCU 3-5
4/6/14         KSU 2-1
4/5/14         FGCU 3-1
4/5/14         FGCU 3-1
5/9/13         FGCU 6-4
 
Last Kennesaw State Win         
4/6/14, 2-1, at Florida Gulf Coast
Last Florida Gulf Coast Win                        
5/8/14, 5-3, at Nashville, Tenn. (A-Sun Tournament)
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Kennesaw State softball team blasted Northern Kentucky for its second-straight Atlantic Sun Conference series sweep as the Owls dominated NKU for wins of 8-2 and 13-7 on Saturday and a five-inning 14-3 victory on Sunday. Junior Megan Veringa paced the KSU offense against the Norse, putting up a .583 batting average in the series with nine RBI, seven hits, five runs, three doubles and two homers. Veringa recorded three hits and four RBI in game two against NKU, before finishing off the series with a 3-of-3 performance that included a season-high five RBI and three runs.
 
NEXT UP:
The Owls travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for their final nonconference midweek game of the season against No. 12/13 Tennessee on Tuesday (April 21) in Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
Owls in the RPI
In the latest NCAA softball RPI rankings, the Owls came in as No. 67 and are the second-highest team from the Atlantic Sun Conference after USC Upstate at No. 39.
 
Owls Streaking
The Owls have won 14 of their last 19 games and eight-straight in league play, while also earning six series victories out of the last seven - including four-straight in A-Sun action - with wins over Furman, North Florida, Troy, Jacksonville, Stetson and Northern Kentucky. 
 
KSU Leading
As a team, the Owls lead the conference with 15 triples, eight saves and fielding double plays with 19. KSU also ranks 12th in the nation with 0.35 triples per game and 31st in double plays per game at 0.44.
 
Owls in A-Sun Statistics
The Owls rank second in the league with 29 wins, a .308 batting average, 241 runs scored, 361 hits, 218 RBIs, 58 doubles and 560 total bases, while ranking third with a .478 slugging percentage, a .363 on-base percentage and 37 home runs. KSU has also allowed the second-lowest number of walks with 93 on the season and owns the third-most strike outs looking with 67 in 2015.
 
Triples Leader
Senior Natalie Rhodes leads the league and ranks second nationally with eight triples on the year, with her 0.19 triples per game also ranking second in the NCAA.
 
Toughest to Strikeout
Rhodes is the 11th toughest player to strikeout in the NCAA as the senior has struck out only four times in 145 at-bats in 2015.
 
Super Senior, Part I
Rhodes also ranks in the top 10 in several other categories in the A-Sun, including hits (third, 57), runs scored (sixth, 38), batting average (sixth, .393), total bases (seventh, 82), stolen bases (seventh, 15) and  on-base percentage (10th, .444).
 
RBIs
Junior Megan Veringa sits second in the conference with 43 RBIs and has had 11 multiple RBI games this season, while classmate Hillary Kartman is tied for 10th with 34 RBIs on the year and owns 12 multiple RBI games this season.
 
Stolen Bases
Four Owls have registered 10 or more stolen bases this season with junior Kara Chambers ranking sixth in the A-Sun with 17-of 20 stolen bases this season. Rhodes is second on the team with a 15-of-20 mark, while sophomore Taylor Denton is 14-of-16 on stolen base attempts and classmate Lauren Bennett is 10-of-12 on the year.
 
Home Runs
Nine Owls have gone yard on the season, with Kartman leading the way with 11 home runs, which sits fifth in the A-Sun. Veringa (eight), Chambers (five), redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter (five), junior Rachel Dennis (two), junior Emily Bishop (two) and freshman Noelle Winkles (two) have also posted multiple homers on the season.
 
TD in A-Sun Play
Denton has been red-hot in league action and ranks third with a .500 batting average and second with a .565 on-base percentage, while she is tied for eighth with 20 hits in A-Sun contests.
 
Saving Paige
Senior Paige Mathews leads the league and ranks 12th in the nation with four saves on the year, while also owning a 3.50 ERA in 110 innings this season. 
 
Super Senior, Part II
Mathews also ranks third with 32 appearances this season, fifth with 92 strikeouts and sixth with 11 wins, while also tied for seventh with 26 strikeouts looking.
 
No Walking Allowed
Sophomore Logan Viers has given up just 15 walks on the season to rank second in the A-Sun, while allowing the lowest number of runs (42) and earned runs (35) on the season.
 
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.