By: Zac Pike
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State baseball welcomes the Clemson Tigers for a midweek contest on Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be the third total matchup in series history and second within the confines of Stillwell Stadium.
The Rundown
Matchup: Clemson Tigers (12-8, 1-2 ACC) vs. Kennesaw State Owls (8-10, 0-3 ASUN)
Date: Mar. 22
Site: Stillwell Stadium, Kennesaw, Ga.
TV: ESPN+
Game Notes: KSU |
CLEM
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Parking: Student Center Visitor Lot, East Deck, Town Point Economy Lot -
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2023 Schedule: Click Here
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Wednesday vs. Clemson
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m.
KSU: RHP
Tanner Franklin
Clemson: RHP Joe Allen
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THE SERIES
The Owls and Tigers have just met twice on the diamond, with Clemson holding a 2-0 advantage in the series. The two teams last squared off with a pair of games in 2018.
THE LAST MATCHUP
During the 2018 season, KSU and Clemson met in May at Stillwell Stadium for only the second contest in series history. The Tigers pulled away with three runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Owls by a score of 7-2.
FIVE OWLS NEAR THE TOP OF THE ASUN
Senior
Nick Colina is at the top four of the ASUN in several categories this season. The Dallas, Ga. native leads the ASUN in triples (3) and is third in walks (18) and fourth in OBP (.531). Freshman
Jackson Chirello's nine doubles lead the conference.
Donovan Cash is sixth with 20 RBIs.
Zac Corbin's seven steals rank seventh in the ASUN.
Smith Pinson has been electric out of the pen this season, pitching 15.1 innings and has yet to give up an earned run.
THE BABY OWLS
During Opening Weekend, Kennesaw State baseball played 14 student-athletes who were either freshmen or sophomores. The underclassmen consisted of eight position players and six pitchers that took the field during the three-game series. Of the 14, seven were true freshmen.
WEHUNT'S HOT START
Blake Wehunt has dominated all season and was moved to the Friday night starter against Michigan. In his outing, the 6'7 right hander set a career high in both innings pitched (6.1) and strikeouts (9) to earn his second win of the year. Wehunt was selected as the ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance.
CASH MONEY
Donovan Cash put together an incredible weekend against LIU (Feb. 24-26). The KSU first baseman homered in all three games and finished the series 8-for-14 with 10 RBI to earn ASUN Conference Player of the Week honors.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS
Coach Coe and his staff focused on recruiting high school talent during their first, full, recruiting cycle at Kennesaw State. The class features 13 true freshmen and were ranked as the No. 57 class out of 302 Division I programs by Perfect Game USA. Two of these players,
Jackson Chirello and
Tanner Franklin, were also named to the Perfect Game Top 100 Freshmen List prior to the season.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Second baseman
Zac Corbin was the lone Owl selected to the 2023 ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team. The Jefferson, Ga. native started 59 games in 2022 and compiled a .304 batting average with six home runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 37 RBI.
DIAMOND DEBUTS
The Owls feature many new faces on the diamond in the 2023 campaign. 21 out of the 37 players on this year's squad are in their first season with KSU baseball. This accounts for 57% of the team's roster.
LOTS OF OFFENSE
The Owls' offense compiled 46 runs and 46 hits in their three-game series against LIU (Feb. 24-26). KSU connected for seven home runs on the weekend, with two triples and eight doubles. In game two, KSU scored 19 runs to post the second most in a single game in the last five seasons behind the 23 it scored last year versus Stetson (May 13, 2022).
OPENING WEEKEND SUCCESS
Over the last decade, KSU baseball has posted success on Opening Weekend. Since 2012, the Owls have collected a record of 25-14 in their first series of a new season. This season, KSU took two-of-three from New Orleans.
ON DECK
KSU hosts EKU for a three-game conference series starting Friday at 6 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium.
To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State baseball team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook and Instagram.
