KENNESAW STATE (26-13) VS. GEORGIA STATE (23-15)
GAME 40 | APRIL 8, 2015
KENNESAW, Ga. | BAILEY PARK (600)
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
 
THE GAME:
The Kennesaw State softball team returns home for a midweek match-up against crosstown rival Georgia State in the second meeting between the two teams this season with a 5 p.m. ET contest on Wednesday (April 8) at Bailey Park.

THE PROMOTIONS:
The first 200 fans at Wednesday's game will receive a free KSU Arm Sleeve. 
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com for Wednesday's game at Bailey Park.
LIVE AUDIO: Live audio of Wednesday's game against Georgia State 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.
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN:
Kennesaw state leads, 16-14
Last 5 meetings    
3/26/15        GSU 11-3 (5)
3/25/14        GSU 8-0
3/18/14        GSU 7-5
2/22/14        KSU 7-6
4/2/13          GSU 7-3
 
Last Kennesaw state Win
2/22/14, 7-6, at Kennesaw State
Last Georgia State Win                               
3/26/15, 11-3 (5), at Georgia State
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Kennesaw State softball team broke out the brooms for an Atlantic Sun Conference series sweep of reigning A-Sun Tournament champion Stetson as the Owls went 3-0 on the weekend for its third-straight conference series win. KSU used a complete team effort on Friday, as the team posted a 2-1 win in game one, before taking a 5-3 eighth-inning victory in game two. The Owls then completed the sweep with an 8-1 win over the Hatters on Saturday. Senior Natalie Rhodes posted a team-high .462 batting average and six hits, including a double and a triple, while also making a trio of game-saving catches in deep centerfield over the weekend. Redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter was also clutch with five hits, four RBI and two runs against the Hatters. Sophomore Logan Viers led the Owls in the circle as she went 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA after allowing just two earned runs on four hits and striking out eight in 11 innings. Viers held opponents to a .111 batting average and did not allow a single extra-base hit.
 
NEXT UP:
The Owls will next head north for a three-game conference series at Northern Kentucky this weekend in Highland Heights, Ky., starting with a doubleheader on Saturday (April 11), before wrapping the series with a single game on Sunday (April 12). First pitch for both days is set for 12 p.m. ET at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
Owls in the RPI
In the latest NCAA softball RPI rankings, the Owls came in as No. 62 and are the second-highest team from the Atlantic Sun Conference after USC Upstate at No. 42.
 
Series Wins
The Owls have won 11 of their last 15 games and five-straight in league play, while also earning five series victories out of the last six - including three-straight in A-Sun action - with wins over Furman, North Florida, Troy, Jacksonville and Stetson. 
 
Leading the Way
As a team, the Owls lead the conference with 14 triples, eight saves and fielding double plays with 19. KSU also ranks 12th in the nation with 0.36 triples per game and 21st in double plays per game at 0.49.
 
KSU in the A-Sun Rankings
The Owls rank second in the league with 26 wins, 477 total bases and 310 hits, while allowing the third-lowest number of walk with 80 on the season. KSU also ranks third with a .298 batting average, a .456 slugging percentage, 202 runs scored, 181 RBIs and 61 batters struck out looking in overall play.
 
Triples
Senior Natalie Rhodes leads the league and ranks second nationally with seven triples on the year, with her 0.18 triples per game also ranking sixth in the NCAA.
 
Toughest to Strikeout
Rhodes is the 19th toughest player to strikeout in the NCAA as the senior has struck out only four times in 129 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 (second, 51), runs scored (sixth, 31), total bases (sixth, 73) and  batting average (seventh, .395).
 
RBIs
Junior Megan Veringa sits in a tie for sixth in the conference with 32 RBIs and has had eight multiple RBI games this season, while classmate Hillary Kartman is ninth with 30 RBIs on the year.
 
Swiping the Bases
Four Owls have registered 10 or more stolen bases this season with Rhodes and junior Kara Chambers ranking in a tie for sixth in the A-Sun as Rhodes owns a 12-of-17 mark and Chambers going 12-of-15 this season. Sophomore Taylor Denton is 11-of-13 on stolen base attempts, while classmate Lauren Bennett is 10-of-12 on the year.
 
Home Run Heroes
Nine Owls have gone yard on the season, with Kartman leading the way with nine home runs, which sits in a tie for fifth in the A-Sun. Veringa (six), Chambers (five), redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter (four), junior Emily Bishop (two) and freshman Noelle Winkles (two) have also posted multiple homers on the season.
 
Sacrificing for the Team
Redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter owns three sacrifice flies on the season to rank in a tie for fourth in the league and is 37th in the nation, while junior Missy Perkowski is tied for third in the A-Sun with six sacrifice bunts on the year.
 
Saving Paige
Senior Paige Mathews leads the league and ranks seventh in the nation with four saves on the year, while also pacing the Owls in the circle and ranking eighth in the A-Sun with a 3.04 ERA.
 
Super Senior, Part II
Mathews also ranks third with 29 appearances this season and sits fifth with 10 wins and 83 strikeouts on the season, seventh with 24 strikeouts looking,   and eighth with a .263 opposing batting average and 101.1 innings pitched.
 
Viers in the Circle
Sophomore Logan Viers has given up just 14 walks on the season to lead the A-Sun, while allowing the second-lowest number of runs (37) and earned runs (30) 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.