March 20, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State softball team will open the Atlantic Sun Conference portion of the schedule when the Owls travel to Spartanburg, S.C. to take on the USC Upstate Spartans in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Cyrill Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with all the action available on A-Sun TV.

The Owls (21-7) are coming off a split in the final two games of the Owl Classic last weekend at Bailey Park. After the two-day event was cut in half due to severe weather, KSU came out flat against Kent State, falling 2-0 while only recording three hits. The Owls came back in the night-cap, and on the strength of a Corri Connally sacrifice fly, to down Birmingham-Southern, 1-0, in eight innings.

The Black and Gold bats have struggled over the last few games, dropping the team's batting average to .243 for the season. Freshman Jessica Cross continues to lead the way offensively for the Owls, posting a team best .325 average with six doubles, seven homers and 23 RBI. The Tunnel Hill, Ga., native has been overpowering in the circle as well, recording a 4-1 record and a league-best 0.81 earned run average.

USC Upstate (15-6, 1-1 A-Sun) is coming off a split in its first-ever A-Sun series with Belmont. The Spartans took game one, 6-0, behind 11 strikeouts from freshman pitcher Morgan Childers before falling in the night-cap, 5-1. The Spartans tried to rally in the seventh inning, loading the bases but eventually fell without scoring another run to drop to 15-6 overall and 1-1 in the league.

The Spartans have done well so far in their first year of Division I play, after recording 47 wins and making their fourth straight D-II tournament appearance in 2007. Heidi Gibbs has led the USC Upstate offense this season, as the junior outfielder is batting a team-best .391 with 27 hits. Catcher Vanessa Flores has driven in a team-high 16 RBI, while Courtney Felton has 14.

The two teams are no strangers to one another, having met 26 previous times dating back to both schools time in the Peach Belt Conference. The Owls hold a commanding 25-1 advantage in the series, including having won the last 10 games. The Spartans lone victory came in the form of a 5-0 shutout in game one of a doubleheader on April 7, 2002.

The Owls will return to Bailey Park on Tuesday for a doubleheader with the University of Albany, before hosting the first home conference doubleheader against Jacksonville on March 28.