Julien Benjamin (Staff Writer)
KSU Owls baseball holds its A-Sun home debut this weekend as they play host to the Lipscomb Bisons in a three game series at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls will attempt to break their three game losing streak, which has dropped their overall record to a mediocre 12-12, in the series opener on Friday at 6 p.m.
The series will be a great opportunity for KSU to draw themselves closer to their top conference competition, as the Owls are currently fourth, while the 13-9 Bisons hold second place overall.
In the Owls last game, the team engineered a remarkable comeback against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, led by a grand slam off the bat of Alex Liquori, who has ridden a six for 12 streak over his past three games to raise his batting average to a team-leading .350, good for 10th in the conference. However, that game ended in disappointment as a balk by reliever Justin McCalvin in the ninth gave Georgia Tech a free ticket to victory.
The only in-conference play for the Owls thus far has resulted in a 1-2 record as they lost a weekend series to the Mercer Bears, by a combined 7 runs last weekend in a rain-shorted series.
The Owls hold an 8-8 record at home, but are 2-4 over their last sixs in Kennesaw. Slumps from the team’s primary hitters have doomed the offense lately, which has been held to four runs or fewer in four of their last six. However, the team has performed better in its last 2 games, causing Manager Sansing to be more optimistic about his team’s approach at the plate, but this potential needs to be translated into wins.
The weekend’s match-up with the Bisons will provide the Owls an opportunity to improve both its home record and A-Sun record, as they look to build momentum for their future matchups vs. Auburn, and another A-Sun opponent Jacksonville next week.
Weekend Starters
In the series opener, The Owls will send their oldest starter, junior Nathan Harsh to face the Bison’s knuckleballer Ian Martinez-McGraw, both right-handed starters with two wins on their record.
On Saturday, Owls strikeout leader left-hander Travis Bergen will take the mound against opponent Hunter Brothers, who is yet to record a decision in any of his five appearances.
Jordan Hillyer, who struggled in his last start against Georgia Tech, will face Denton Norman, the Bisons’ most consistent starter, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
KSU leaders
Pitching
Justin McCalvin (13 A | 0 GS | 2-1 | 1.07 ERA | 25.1 IP | 25 SO | 5 BB)
Jordan Hillyer (5 A | 5 GS | 2-0 | 2.89 ERA | 28 IP | 24 SO | 8 BB)
Travis Bergen (5 A | 5 GS | 2-3 | 2.71 ERA | 29.1 IP | 31 SO | 3 BB)
Hitting
Batting average: OF Alex Liquori (.350); Bo Way (.337); hits: C Max Pentecost (32), CF Bo Way (31); homeruns: 1B Chris McGowan, C Brennan Morgan (2), RBIs: RF Alex Liquori (21); 1B Chris McGowan (20), steals: C Max Pentecost (8).
Lipscomb Leaders
Pitching
Nick Andros (6 A | 1 GS | 2-0 | 1.80 ERA | 20 IP | 16 SO | 8 BB)
Jason Ziegler (11 A | 0 GS | 2-1 | 1.93 ERA | 18.2 IP | 16 SO | 4 BB)
Hitting
Batting average: INF Austin Sistrunk (.362); hits: INF Tyson Ashcraft, OF Drew Adams (27); homeruns: INF Tyson Ashcraft (3), RBIs: OF Drew Adams (25), INF Austin Sistrunk (22); steals: INF Grant Massey (7).
