From Kenn. St. reports
— Junior Corey Greeson and sophomore Griffin Helms of the Kennesaw State baseball team earned selections on the 2016 Atlantic Sun Conference Academic All-Conference team, the league announced Monday ( May 23) afternoon.
“It says a lot about them as individuals and that they are the definition of a true studentathlete,” head coach Mike Sansing said. “It’s a tremendous honor to have them receive the award and recognition for their hard work in the classroom.”
Greeson, who owns an impressive 3.57 GPA in Mechanical Engineering, has been one of many anchors for the potent offensive lineup for the Owls. The switch-hitting junior has compiled an overall batting average of .361 (56-for-155) — which ranks second on the team. Greeson also ranks second on team in doubles (10) and ranks third in total hits (56) and third in home
MACON, Ga.
runs (five), knocking in 29 RBI on the season. . His .361/.421/.535 slash line is one of the best on the Owls roster. In conference action, Greeson has batted an impressive .388 with 33 hits, seven doubles, one triple and a home run, driving in 13 runs.
Meanwhile, Helms, a sophomore who earned an incredible 3.74 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science at KSU, helped pace the Owls’ offense, batting in an impressive .384 (38for-99) mainly as a designated hitter – and led the team in batting average. Helms also ranked fourth on the team in home runs (4), while compiling two doubles and 23 RBI. He also totaled a .525 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage. In ASUN play, Helms batted .400 (18-45) with 18 hits, two doubles and three home runs, knocking in 13 runs.
“For both of them to maintain the required GPA while playing and traveling is something to be proud of. It can be a grind at times and to keep up with their academics like they did says a lot,” Sansing said.
Kennesaw State will turn back around and travel to Nashville as the No. 1 seed in the 2016 ASUN Championships.
The Owls won their first regular season title in program history after posting an impressive 17-4 mark in conference play. KSU won all seven ASUN series in 2016, marking the first time that has happened since 2010 (FGCU) and is the first regular season championship under head coach Mike Sansing since the Owls turned DI in 2006.
In other recent college baseball news:
Owls claim first regular-season conference title with win THE BASICS
Records: Kennesaw State (27-25, 15-4), FGCU (24-28, 9-10)
Final Score: KSU 7, FGCU 2
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Ryan Lang vs. LHP Chris Erwin
Key Players: Justin Motley (3-for-4, 4 RBI); Jeremy Howell (2-for-4, RBI); Chris Erwin (win, 7.0 IP)
THE STORYLINE
- Kennesaw State clinched its first ASUN regular season title in program history Thursday evening, defeating host FGCU 7-2 at Swanson Stadium.
- The Owls’ magic number was two entering the night, combing with a win and USC Upstate’s 10- inning 4- 3 victory over JU clinched KSU’s No. 1 seed for the 2016 ASUN Championship.
-With the win, the Owls improved to 27-25 overall and 15-4 in ASUN action, while FGCU dropped to 24-28 overall and 9-10 in league play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-FGCU struck first with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, giving the Eagles an early 2-0 edge.
-The Owls, however, responded after backto-back singles set up a three-run home run off the bat of senior Justin Motley, giving the Owls a 3-2 advantage.
- Meanwhile, the Grayson, Ga. native shut down the Eagles’ bats with four straight scoreless frames to hold keep the 3-2 advantage true on the scoreboard.
-The lefty allowed just two hits over those innings and recorded four strikeouts during the span.
-With Erwin rolling on the mound, the Owls were able to add to their lead when senior Brennan Morgan drove home his 38th RBI of the season with a single in the sixth, giving KSU a 4-2 lead.
- Kennesaw State scored a crooked three in the top half of the eighth, coming of RBI from Jeremy Howell, Taylor Allum and Motley’s tri- ple gave the Owls a 7-2 advantage.
-Erwin, who improved to 3-2 on the season, tossed 7.0 strong innings and allowed just two runs on seven hits while striking out six batters.
-Motley, who wrappedup his Owl career at Stillwell Stadium last weekend, posted a career night going 3-for-4 at the dish with a career-high four RBI – who fell a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
-Offensively, Kennesaw State totaled seven players with at least one hit in the ballgame, including Corey Greeson. Motley and Howell led the way with multi-hit games.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Since April 6, senior Brennan Morgan only has two games without a hit – RBI single in the sixth extended that mark.
- Kennesaw State clinched a regular season championship for the first time in program history, and will hold the No. 1 seed next week in Nashville for the 2016 ASUN Championship.