18 Michael Goss
38 Hunter Smith
Cartersville, Ga.
Whiteville, N.C.
1B // 6-3 // 210 // R-Jr.
RHP // 6-3 // 200 // R-Jr.
Whiteville HS/Gardner-Webb
Cartersville HS/Chattanooga St. CC Chattanooga St. CC: Played two seasons at Chattanooga State … Named National Junior College Player of the Week in 2015 during week five and was the Tennessee Junior College Conference Player of the Week April 24-26 in his sophomore season … Posted a .353 batting average with 10 doubles, a triple and three home runs … As a freshman, recorded a .391 batting average with 45 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and three home runs … Named top GPA male athlete at Chattanooga State … Also played two seasons for the Brookhaven Bucks in the Sunbelt Collegiate Baseball League. High School: Played at Cartersville High School and was named Team Most Valuable Player as a senior … Named to the All-Region Team and was named the All-County Player of the Year … earned Mr. May honors for his efforts in the playoffs … Posted a .532 batting average with 42 hits as a senior … Recorded 12 doubles and three home runs … Named a Scholar Athlete.
6 Ben Kerner
RHP // 6-3 // 175 // Jr.
Cary, N.C. Cary HS/Brunswick CC
Brunswick CC: Kerner played two seasons at Brunswick Community College and was coached by Robbie Allen … Compiled a 3-1 record and 1.83 earned run average over 44.1 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts … Threw a complete game shutout and struck out 10 batters in a 10-0 victory over New River Community College … Made 14 appearances his freshman campaign, ending up with a 1.83 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched … Made five starts and finished the season with a 3-1 record … Recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in six innings in a 10-0 victory over New River Community College April 27. High School: Earned three varsity letters for Cary High School and head coach Brian Yerger … Named recipient of the Coaches Award his senior season … Garnered academic all-conference honors from 2009-12 … Has competed the last three summers for the Carolina Lake Monsters under head coach Greg Ayscue Personal: Benjamin Carl Kerner … Born July 3, 1994 in Raleigh, N.C. … Son of Robert Kerner and Patricia Shields … Majoring in economics.
2015 (Junior) - Redshirted during the 2015 season. At Gardner-Webb 2014 (Sophomore): Appeared in 12 contests with four starts … Produced a 3-1 record and compiled a 4.75 earned run average … Struck out 19 batters in 30.1 innings … Also hit .226 in 62 at bats … Picked up wins over eventual Super Regional participant Kennesaw State, Furman and UNC Asheville … Hurled eight strong innings at Kennesaw State, allowing just two earned runs and striking out three … Put together a five-game hitting streak from April 25-May 2 during which he was 9-for-15 with two runs scored and three RBI … Made just two errors to end up with a .982 fielding percentage. 2013 (Freshman): Two-way standout saw action in 10 games as a position player and made nine appearances on the mound (five starts) … Made four starts at catcher … Batted .200 with three hits in 15 at bats … Had a gamewinning RBI double vs. North Carolina A&T (4/13) … Went 1-1 with a 5.53 ERA in 27.2 innings of mound work … Drew a handful of difficult mid-week assignments, starting at Western Carolina (4/17), vs. South Carolina (4/23) and East Carolina (4/30) … Worked 4.2 innings and fanned four in a no decision vs. the Gamecocks, a game Gardner-Webb rallied to win late … Hurled a season-high 6.2 innings with only three runs allowed vs. ECU … Hurled 4.0 scoreless relief innings to collect a hold vs. Morehead State (2/21). High School: Starred at Whiteville (N.C.) High under Coach Brett Harwood … An honorable mention All-Atlantic Region selection by Perfect Game … A 2012 Class 2A All-State selection … A three-time All-Columbus County selection … Led team to the 2012 Class 2A State Championship … Posted a 9-4 record with a 1.43 ERA and 95 strikeouts on the mound … Walked just 23 batters … Batted a strong .365 with 27 RBI, 11 doubles, two home runs and two triples … Pitched the Wolfpack to three wins and batted .455 in eight playoff games in 2012 … Played sophomore and junior seasons at East Columbus (N.C.) High … Led East Columbus to the N.C. Class 1A State Championship as a junior … Chose Gardner-Webb over George Washington and Navy. Personal: Full named is Stephen Hunter Smith … Born March 18, 1994 in Whiteville, N.C. … Son of Stephen and Susan Smith … Majoring in business administration.