April 24, 2007

KENNESAW, Ga. - Head Coach Scott Whitlock and his Kennesaw State Owls had one goal when they entered this season. That goal was to win the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championship. Now, in the final week of the season, the Owls are two wins away from winning the championships they have strived for since August.

The Owls, who are in first-place in the standings and have just three losses, will meet the surging Mercer Bears in the Owls A-Sun finale in Macon. With a pair of wins, Kennesaw State will clinch its first-ever A-Sun championship.

Reaching the championship won't be easy for the Owls. While Kennesaw State has been perched atop the league standings for over a month, Mercer has made a move from the bottom of the standings and is in the midst of a battle for one of six spots in the A-Sun championship tournament.

Kennesaw State enters Wednesday's doubleheader having won four straight games and six consecutive conference contests. Mercer split its last eight games and also split its last six conference games. They are, however, coming off a sweep of Jacksonville last weekend.

Brittany Matthews, the Owls stellar left-hander, was named the A-Sun Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season and the Owls also have the league's top hitter in Keri McKee.

Mercer is led by the league's second leading hitter and triple-crown candidate, Jamie Madruga. The Bears most dangerous offensive weapon is hitting .401 and leads the conference with 13 home runs while driving in 38 runs.

First pitch between the Owls and the Bears is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Sikes Field.

Kennesaw State (39-17, 13-3 A-Sun) vs Mercer (11-40, 4-8 A-Sun)
at Sikes Field, Macon, Ga.
at 6:00 p.m. (DH) EST

Head Coaches
Kennesaw State Scott Whitlock
Mercer Mike Raynor

Team Numbers
.283 AVG (4th), 2.39 ERA (3rd)
Mercer .241 AVG (9th), 5.91 ERA (9th)

Top Pitchers
Kennesaw State Brittany Matthews (20-4, 2.01 ERA), Norie Glazebrook (5-4, 2.36 ERA), Missy Hobdy (7-4, 2.67 ERA)
Mercer Stephanie Rossman (5-14, 4.20 ERA), April Cunningham (2-14, 6.71 ERA), Nikki Bylak (2-8, 6.52 ERA)

Top Hitters
Kennesaw State Keri McKee (.408 AVG, 2-28)
Mercer Jamie Madruga (.401 AVG, 13-38)

Top Power Threat
Kennesaw State Jennifer Nolan (.346 AVG, 9-48)
Mercer Jamie Madruga (.401 AVG, 13-38)

Top Speed Threat
Kennesaw State Jennifer Nolan (6-7 SB), April Keasler (6-7)
Mercer Crystal Condra (6-10 SB), Holly Olgesbee (6-7)