UP NEXT TO PLATE
The Kennesaw State baseball team (12-8, 4-2) splits hosting duties with Georgia State (5-17) over a four-game series, as the Owls travel to the GSU Baseball Complex for games on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27. The two teams will then travel back to Stillwell Stadium for games on Sunday, March 28 and Monday, March 29.
Opponent: Georgia State University
Location: Atlanta, Ga. | GSU Baseball Complex
GAME ONE:
Date: Friday, March 26
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: Jake Rice (4-0, 1.65 ERA)
GSU: Ryan Watson (2-2, 5.24 ERA)
GAME TWO:
Date: Saturday, March 27
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: Luke Torbert (2-1, 4.72 ERA)
GSU: Cameron Jones (0-3, 4.71 ERA)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Stillwell Stadium
GAME THREE:
Date: Sunday, March 28
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: TBA
GSU: TBA
Watch | Live Stats
GAME FOUR:
Date: Monday, March 29
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: TBA
GSU: TBA
Watch | Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Owls are coming off a 12-10 win against future ASUN competitor Jacksonville State. on Wednesday evening. The scoring started in the first inning when center fielder Alex Carballo shot his second home run of the year over Stillwell Stadium's right-field wall.
After hitting in four of his last nine at-bats, the senior now sits in second place in the ASUN's batting-average standings with a .342.
Tyler Simon led the team with three RBis against the Gamecocks and Garrett Hodges had another impressive performance with his four-for-six game.
HODGY'S HOT
Switching between designated hitter and right field in his last two games, Hodges is six-for-nine in his last two games against Georgia and Jacksonville State.
The South Effingham High School graduate is one of four Owls to start every game of the 2021 season.
Hodges is hitting for a .307 average, tying the team lead for home runs with four. The outfielder also finds himself among the best generators of offense in the conference, tying for third with 17 RBIs.
RICE RISES TO THE TOP
Graduate pitcher Jake Rice is still in the upper echelon of pitching talent in the ASUN Conference.
He is second in wins with four, second in strikeouts with 33 and third in ERA with a 1.65.
The starter for Friday night's opener against Georgia State pitched 26 and two-thirds innings before letting up an earned run last Friday against Lipscomb; the Birmingham, Ala. native was one of only three college pitchers to pitch 20 innings with allowing an earned run.
TORBERT'S ON A TEAR
Right-handed hurler Luke Torbert is coming off his most imposing start of the season, earning the win in last Saturday's 15-2 victory against Lipscomb.
The Marietta, Ga. junior's seven innings included a season-high eight strikeouts, five hits and two earned runs.
Torbert fills out a strong foursome of the best WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) pitchers on the team, joining Rice, reliever Jared Rine and closer Kolby Johnson.
TERRIFIC TERENCE
Kennesaw, Ga.'s hometown hero Terence Norman is the reigning RBI leader of the ASUN Conference, swinging in 21 runs in the season so far.
The right fielder doubled to center field in Tuesday's game in Athens, Ga. for his 21st RBI of the season.
Only one batter has more home runs than the senior in the ASUN Conference.
An incredibly powerful hitter, Norman also has the second-best batting average on the team with .321.
