Two Kennesaw State baseball players have received preseason accolades as the team makes its final adjustments ahead of the 2020 season, as first announced by the Department of Athletics on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
The Atlantic Sun Conference released its list of preseason all-conference players for the upcoming baseball season, which included KSU senior outfielder Terence Norman and redshirt senior infielder Justin Russell. Norman was announced as the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year.
Norman and Russell were named first-team all-conference after posting strong performances last season. Both players impressed offensively in 2019, as Norman led the ASUN with 75 hits and a .350 batting average while Russell knocked a conference-high 12 home runs, according to ASUN conference archives.
Since joining the team as a freshman in 2017, Norman has been an offensive asset for KSU. The Kennesaw Mountain High School graduate appeared in 32 games as a freshman, accruing 27 hits on 85 at-bats.
In his second season with KSU, Norman built upon his early success. As a sophomore in 2018, his season totals improved in nearly every statistical category. He tallied a team-high .333 batting average while adding 63 hits and 32 RBI. After the 2018 season, he was named first-team all-ASUN.
Norman led the Owls to a 27-29 record in 2019, with the team winning four of its final five games. As a junior, he especially succeeded against ASUN opponents. In conference play, the outfielder converted 13 RBI and earned a .354 batting average. He also earned the honor of first-team all-ASUN for the second consecutive year.
Last season, Russell played his first year for the Owls after transferring to KSU from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. Russell wasted no time in becoming a key player for the team, immediately showing his skills as a two-way player. As a junior, he started in 37 of the team’s 44 games last season.
Russell made an impact on both offense and defense in 2019. The infielder earned a perfect 1.000 fielding average after committing zero errors. On offense, Russell’s contributions included 12 home runs, 37 RBI, and a .609 slugging percentage.
The two sluggers are both entering their senior years and will look to provide leadership for younger KSU players this season. After its strong finish to the 2019 season, the team expects to make a run at the ASUN conference championship in 2020.
KSU head baseball coach Mike Sansing will lead the team for the 27th consecutive year. The Owls will begin the 2020 season by hosting the Atlanta Classic, a three-day tournament that will take place from Feb. 14 to Feb.17 at Stillwell Stadium.
The team’s first game will be played on Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m., against St. John’s University. The Owls will then face St. Peter’s University on Saturday, Feb. 15, and the University of Cincinnati on Sunday, Feb. 16.
