By: Matteen Zibanejadrad
UP NEXT TO PLATE
The Kennesaw State baseball team (26-13, 12-3) will look to even the season series against fellow Georgia program Mercer (26-17). The last meeting came down to the wire and the Owls will be hungry to set matters right just a week after their 12-10 loss to the Bears.
Opponent: Mercer
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field
Date: Wednesday, May 5
Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
Starting Pitching
KSU: LHP Anthony Rodriguez (0-1, 5.56 ERA)
MER: RHP Tommy Green (1-2, 7.05 ERA)
Live Stats | Watch
LAST TIME OUT
The Kennesaw State baseball team is coming off of a weekend to remember after taking two games off of No. 24 Georgia Tech to win its fifth weekend series in a row. The 5-1 Friday and 10-5 Sunday victories mark the first time that the Owls have beaten the Yellow Jackets twice in one season in program history. Before this weekend, the last time Kennesaw State beat Georgia Tech was April 21, 2015.
LOOKING FOR REVENGE
The Owls are a week removed since their last game against Mercer, when Kennesaw State almost mounted a comeback before the 12-10 loss was cemented.
Tyler Simon was the star of the show, as the shortstop hit four RBIs on a bases-clearing double with the bases loaded and a solo shot for his second home run of the year.
RINE AND SHINE
Jared Rine has solidified himself as Head Coach Mike Sansing's first choice out of the Kennesaw State bullpen. It's easy to see why.
The six-foot-four sophomore has allowed just four hits over his last four outings, along with no earned runs to his name.
The reliever owns the second-best earned-run average in the ASUN with a 2.13, behind only KSU starter Jake Rice.
Rine's most impressive appearance may have been Friday's 5-1 win against Georgia Tech, where the pitcher from Powder Springs allowed just one hit in his three-inning save.
BACK-TO-BACK JACKS
After facing some early-season struggles, Nick Hassan has found himself at the center of some big plays the last few weeks.
Hitting the first home run of his career in a 11-3 win against North Alabama on April 10, Hassan found a perfect time and place for his second.
With Kennesaw State down 1-0 against Georgia Tech in the top of the seventh inning on Friday, the game's first baseman found himself in the batter's box with two runners on. The Yellow Jacket pitcher got Hassan down to an 0-2 count after two foul balls.
The freshman was then offered a pitch below the strike zone, which he golfed to deep left field to clang a three-run home run off of the metal siding of the John and Mary Brock Football Facility.
The Owls' bench was still celebrating when designated hitter Malik Spratling took an outside pitch deep for his first big fly as an Owl. The back-to-back bombs put Kennesaw State in prime position to win their first game against Georgia Tech in six years.
