By: Russ Lockridge
UP NEXT TO PLATE
The Kennesaw State baseball team (24-12, 12-3) will head down Interstate 75 for a home and home series against Georgia Tech (20-16, 15-12) starting Friday. The first two games of the series will be played at Russ Chandler Field, and the Sunday finale will be played at Stillwell Stadium on Sunday.
Opponent: Georgia Tech
Location: Atlanta, Ga | Russ Chandler Field
GAME ONE
Date: Friday, April 30
Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: LHP Jake Rice (7-0, 1.54 ERA)
GT: LHP Brant Hurter (3-3, 3.78 ERA)
Live Stats | Watch
GAME TWO
Date: Saturday, May 1
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: RHP Luke Torbert (5-2, 4.22 ERA)
GT: LHP Andy Archer (4-4, 4.06 ERA)
Live Stats | Watch
GAME THREE
Date: Sunday, May 2
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: LHP Ryan Kennedy (5-0, 4.64 ERA)
GT: RHP Marquis Grissom, Jr. (0-1, 3.78 ERA)
Live Stats | Watch
LAST TIME OUT
The Kennesaw State Owls are coming off of a tough 12-10 loss against the Mercer Bears on Wednesday. Despite fighting back from being 12-6 down and making matters uncomfortable for the Macon, Ga. team until the very end, the Owls were unable to complete the comeback with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning.
KING KENNEDY
Kennedy won the ASUN Pitcher of the Week on Monday after tossing a seven-inning complete game shutout with a career-high nine strikeouts in last Sunday's 7-0 win.
The six-foot-two leftie has had a resurgence in the last month after his early season struggles that saw him with a 13.50 ERA on March 7th. Since March 23rd, Kennedy is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts for the Owls.
SIMON SAYS
Tyler Simon hit a personal-best four RBIs in the Mercer loss Wednesday and he did so with aplomb.
The shortstop made it a 4-3 game in the second inning after clearing the loaded bases with a double down the right-field line.
Simon also capped the late-game surge for the Owls, plating the team's fourth unanswered run with a solo shot into the balcony of the Bailey Complex. It was the middle infielder's second home run this season and first since Feb. 28 against Coastal Carolina.
SENIOR SLUGGING
Senior Terence Norman played a huge part in the Owls's two wins against Lipscomb. Norman had four hits in the series, including a grand slam and six RBIs in the three games played.
Norman now leads the club with seven round trippers on the year and is now third in the ASUN in home runs.
ACE UP OUR SLEEVE
Jake Rice continued to dominate his opponents' lineups after he picked up another win on Friday against Lipscomb. His seventh win of the season is good for first in the ASUN.
The Birmingham, Ala native went six and a third innings while scattering six hits and giving up two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts. The leftie was perfect through five innings until he gave up a leadoff single in the sixth.
SPEEDY SHERRILL
Second baseman Jesse Sherill keeps showing the Owl faithful just how many tools he keeps in his toolbox.
The Floridian continues to lead the conference in stolen bases with 12 and double plays turned with 27.
Sherrill also hit the first home run of his college career against Georgia Southern last Wednesday and did so in spectacular fashion. The middle infielder took a 5-3 lead for the home team with a grand slam. It was the first four-run home run hit by an Owl since Norman on April 6, 2019 against UNCW.
SERIES STREAK
The Owls have won the past four series they've played in. Their streak started with a four-game sweep of Georgia State and a pair of three-game sweeps against North Alabama and Bellarmine.
Their streak continued after the Sunday win against KSU has not lost a series since they lost two out of three to the same Nashville, Tenn. team in mid-March.
KSU looks to continue their series streak against in-state foe Georgia Tech.
