KENNESAW STATE (3-1) VS PHYLLIS RAFTER MEMORIAL INVITATIONAL
GAMES 5-7 | FEBRARY 13-14, 2015
KENNESAW, Ga. | BAILEY PARK (600)
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
 
THE GAMES:
The Kennesaw State softball team returns to the field for the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Invitational, hosted by the Owls on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13-14 at Bailey Park.
 
KSU opens the tournament against IUPUI on Friday at 2 p.m. ET, before a twin bill on Saturday, starting with Morehead State at 1 p.m. KSU then takes on 2014 NCAA Women's College World Series participant Kentucky at 5 p.m. to wrap the tournament.
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com for every game at Bailey Park.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State softball team on Twitter @KSUOwlsSB to receive updates throughout the game.
 
THE PROMOTIONS:
A surprise gate giveaway will be given out prior to the Owls' contest against IUPUI on Friday. Saturday's Contest against Morehead State will be the Pink Game, with KSU's very own Sturgis making an appearance at Bailey Park.
 
THE SERIES:
It will be the first-ever meeting between the Owls and the Wildcats, while KSU owns a 1-0 record over IUPUI and Morehead State. The Owls posted a 2-1 win over the Eagles in the College of Charleston Classic on Feb. 18, 2012 and defeated the Jaguars, 1-0, two seasons ago in the Owls' KSU Classic on Feb. 16, 2013.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Kennesaw State opened the 2015 season with the KSU Classic last weekend and went 3-1 in its four games at Bailey Park. The Owls started of the tournament with a pair of wins over Ohio, 7-2, and Dayton, 12-6. On Saturday, KSU took its first loss of the season to No. 13/14 Tennessee, 13-5, in five innings, but rebounded with a 1-0 shutout win over Tennessee Tech in Sunday's finale. Senior Natalie Rhodes led the Owls with a 7-of-14 effort, including a team-leading three triples to go along with a team-leading five runs and two RBI.
 
NEXT UP:
The Owls head on the road for the first time in the 2015 season with a trip to Greenville, N.C., for the Pirate Invitational, hosted by East Carolina on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22. KSU will go up against the host Pirates, as well as Big East foe Seton Hall and Lafayette College.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
Rhodes Leading Owls
Senior Natalie Rhodes leads the Owls with a .500 batting average after going 7-of-14 in the opening weekend, with three of her seven hits going for three bases, which ranks first in the conference.
 
Kartman Goes Yard
IPFW transfer Hillary Kartman put on a show in her first action with the Owls, blasting a pair of home runs, including her first long ball in her first at-bat for KSU.
 
Owls in the Circle
All four pitchers saw action for the Owls this past weekend, with senior Paige Mathews going 2-0 with a team-leading nine strikeouts and 11.2 innings pitched. Sophomore Logan Viers leads the Owls with a 1.17 ERA in 6.0 innings of action and three appearances.
 
KSU Leading A-Sun in Triples
The Owls lead the A-Sun with four triples on the years, with Rhodes owning three and sophomore Missy Perkowski owning one.
 
2015 Roster
The Owls return 10 players from the 2014 season, while welcoming in six newcomers, including two freshmen and three transfers.
 
Owls Picked Sixth
In the annual A-Sun Preseason Softball Coaches Poll, the Owls were picked sixth, with USC Upstate earning the top spot.
 
Chambers Tabbed A-Sun Preseason Co-DPOY
Chambers was named the 2015 A-Sun Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year after earning 2014 A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year and second-team all-conference accolades a season ago.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.