EVANSVILLE NOTES  |  KENNESAW STATE NOTES  |  LIVE AUDIO  |  LIVE STATS

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team will continue its 2013 campaign with a trip to Kennesaw, Ga., this weekend for a three-game series with Kennesaw State.  The Purple Aces and Owls will kick off the series with a 5 p.m. game Friday and continue the set with a 2 p.m. contest Saturday, before wrapping up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Evansville (3-7) took two games of a three-game series with Milwaukee in its home-opening series last weekend by outscoring the Panthers, 24-9.  Senior Chris Pearson led the Aces offensively, going 6-for-12 with four RBI, while redshirt sophomore Kevin Kaczmarski extended his on-base streak to 28 games by finishing the series 5-for-13 at the plate with a double, a triple and four runs scored. 
 
On the mound, all three UE starters notched quality starts with senior Kyle Lloyd and sophomore Kyle Freeland each earning a win.  Freeland allowed just one run on six hits in his seven-inning outing and struck out a season-high 10 batters, while walking just two.  Lloyd allowed three runs, two earned, in on eight hits in 6.0 innings of work, recording seven strikeouts.  Redshirt junior Sam Johns suffered the lone loss in the series despite allowing just two runs on five this in his 6.0 innings on the bump.
 
Evansville is hitting .269 as a team this year and scoring 4.6 runs per game.  The Aces have recorded 13 extra-base this, including nine doubles and are getting on base at a .365 clip with a .973 fielding percentage. On the base paths, UE has stolen eight bases in 10 chances.  Kaczmarski is one of three Evansville players hitting over .300 and leads the team with a .368 average, five doubles, three stolen bases and a .553 slugging percentage.  Pearson owns a .316 average with five RBI and redshirt junior Johnny Day is hitting .306 with two doubles, five RBI, six runs scored and is tied for the team lead with a .432 on-base percentage.
 
The Aces’ pitching staff has combined for a 5.68 ERA and opponents are hitting .286 against it.  Freeland leads the staff with a 2-1 record, 2.84 ERA and 19.0 innings of work.  The sophomore southpaw leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 23 strikeouts and has walked just three, while holding opposing hitters to a .240 average.  Lloyd owns a 1-1 record with a 3.18 ERA and is currently second in the MVC behind Freeland with 20 strikeouts and has issued just five free passes in his 17.0 innings on the mound.  Johns is 0-1 on the year with a 4.30 ERA and seven strikeouts in 14.2 innings.  Out of the bullpen, Jake Naumann has made four appearances and notched both of UE’s saves this season.
 
Kennesaw State (7-6) shut out Georgia Southern, 5-0, in a mid-week game Wednesday on its home field to snap a three-game losing streak.  Max Pentecost and Bo Way each tallied a pair of hits for the Owls in the win and four different players drove in runs for KSU.  Steve Janas earned the win on the mound, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits with five strikeouts.
 
Kennesaw State enters the weekend hitting .235 as a team and is averaging just under four runs per outing.  The Owls have posted a .312 on-base percentage, are fielding .963 as a squad and have stolen six bases in 10 chances.  Way owns a team-best .367 batting average and two triples, and is tied for the team lead with seven runs scored and a home run.  Alex Liquori is hitting .320 in his seven starts with three RBI, while Anthony Duran is hitting .258 with five runs scored and six RBI.  Kal Simmons leads KSU with three doubles and nine RBI, and is hitting .227.
 
The Kennesaw State pitching staff has posted a 3.00 ERA and is holding opposing hitters to a paltry .218 batting average.  Janas is 1-0 on the year with a perfect 0.00 ERA in his 10.0 innings of work, recording 10 strikeouts around just one walk, while holding opponents to a 1.18 batting average.  Kevin Kyle is 1-2 on the year with a 4.15 ERA in 17.1 innings on the hill with 15 strikeouts and Will Solomon has posted a 1-1 record in his three starts with a 4.72 ERA and 10 strikeouts.  Travis Dean has also made three starts for the Owls, going 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA.
 
This weekend’s series will mark the first-ever meeting between Evansville and Kennesaw State.  Following the series with the Owls, the Aces will open a six-game homestand with a mid-week game against Eastern Illinois Tuesday, March 12, at 5 p.m.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (EVANSVILLE LISTED FIRST)
FRIDAY - LHP Cole Isom (0-2, 7.04 ERA) vs. RHP Travis Dean (1-2, 5.14 ERA)
SATURDAY - LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 2.84 ERA) vs. LHP Kevin Kyle (1-2, 4.15 ERA)
SUNDAY - RHP Kyle Lloyd (1-1, 3.18 ERA) vs. Will Solomon (1-1, 4.72 ERA)