By: Michael Goss
KENNESAW, Ga. – For the first time in series history, Kennesaw State baseball and Eastern Kentucky square off on the diamond. The three-game set begins on Friday night, with first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m. inside Stillwell Stadium.
The Rundown
Matchup: Eastern Kentucky Colonels (8-12, 1-3) at Kennesaw State Owls (8-11, 0-3)
Dates: Mar. 24-26
Site: Stillwell Stadium; Kennesaw, Ga.
TV: KSU Owl Network
Game Notes: KSU
Tickets:
Purchase
Parking: Student Center Visitor Lot, East Deck, Town Point Economy Lot -
Parking Map
2023 Schedule: Click Here
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
GAME ONE – Friday
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m.
KSU: RHP
Blake Wehunt
EKU: RHP Rese Brown
Live Stats |
Watch
GAME TWO – Saturday
First Pitch: 4:00 p.m.
KSU: RHP
Braden Osbolt
EKU: RHP Cameron Kalandros
Live Stats |
Watch
GAME THREE – Sunday
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m.
KSU: RHP
Nick Zegna
EKU: RHP Luke Reed
Live Stats |
Watch
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 (.500). 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.
EIDSON DOES IT ALL
Junior
Brayden Eidson has shown that he can do it all through the first part of the new season. The Owls' utility player leads the team in batting average (.423) and has also dominated on the mound as a pitcher. In the midweek versus Clemson (Mar. 22), Eidson tossed a season-high six innings and set a new career-high with six strikeouts. To top it all off, he homered at the plate and was only a triple shy of the cycle.
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.
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.
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.
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 over New Orleans and averaged eight runs per game.
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. KSU was also picked to finish second in the ASUN Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll.
ON DECK
KSU baseball is back in action next Wednesday, Mar. 29 as the team welcomes Mercer to Stillwell Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be the 38th meeting between the two programs. Tickets are available for purchase by clicking
here.
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
