March 11, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - After playing its last 16 games on the road, the Kennesaw State softball team returns to the friendly confines of Bailey Park to play host to in-state foe, Georgia Tech, on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with all the action available for the first time this season on A-Sun.TV.

The Owls (19-5) are 7-1 at home so far this season with the only blemish coming in the form of a 1-0, eighth-inning loss to Southern Miss in the championship game of the K-Club Invitational on February 16.

KSU enters Wednesday's showdown on a roll having won its last six games and nine of the last ten, including going 5-0 last weekend at the prestigious Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. The Black and Gold secured wins over Sam Houston State, Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Indiana and Syracuse during the Spring Break trip.

Catcher Jenna Closner led the Owls offensive attack after batting .375 with three doubles, a homer and four RBI. Shortstop Amanda Malcom and third baseman/pitcher Jessica Cross also went deep to help the Owls out-score the opposition, 19-1, over the four-day event. Pitcher Brittany Matthews was nearly unhittable as the senior made an appearance in every game, recording three wins while also picking up two saves. The hard-throwing lefty did not allow an earned run and struck out 32 batters en route to winning her second straight A-Sun Pitcher of the Week honor.

Georgia Tech (8-15) split its last two contests, beating Vermont, 5-4, in eight innings before falling to Mercer, 2-1. The Yellow Jackets were supposed to have hosted the annual Buzz Classic last weekend, but poor weather and unplayable field conditions canceled the tournament and gave way for Mercer to host a one-day, two-game event on Sunday.

Aileen Morales had four hits and four stolen bases as well as the game-tying RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh inning against UVM for Tech. Christy Jones also had four hits for the Jackets while Savannah Brown and Jessica Weaver each smacked a solo home run.

Morales has led Tech all season as the senior is batting .338 with two doubles, two triples, one homerun and 11 RBI. The Jackets' shortstop has hit safely in each of the last six games and is a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen bases. Despite a 3-7 record, Whitney Humphreys has been Tech's best pitcher, recording a 1.43 earned run average in 58.2 innings.

KSU and Georgia Tech are tied in the all-time series, 3-3, after the Jackets won all three games a year ago between the two schools. The Jackets won the first contest, 8-2, in the KSU Invitational before sweeping a doubleheader, 5-0 and 8-0, on April 18.

After Wednesday's twinbill, the Black and Gold will host the Owls Classic this weekend. KSU will take on Coastal Carolina and Manhattan on Saturday, before closing the tournament with games against Kent State and Birmingham Southern on Sunday.