Game Notes (PDF)

GAMEDAY STORY LINES
• Kennesaw State (36-18) will be making its first postseason appearance since transitioning to the NCAA Division I level in 2006 when it opens play in the National Invitational Softball Championship.
• The Owls drew the top seed in Region 5 and will face the Alabama State-Western Kentucky winner Tuesday (May 16) at 4 p.m. in Atlanta.
 
The Schedule
Region 5 
Atlanta, GA (Host: Georgia State)
Tuesday, May 16
Game 1: Alabama State (21-33) vs. Western Kentucky (29-29), 1 p.m.
Game 2: Game 1 Winner vs. Kennesaw State (36-18), 4 p.m.
Game 3: UT Martin (38-18) vs. Georgia State (34-23), 7 p.m.
 
Wednesday, May 17
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 3 Loser; noon
Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner; 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 2 Loser vs. Game 4 winner; 7 p.m.
 
Thursday, May 18
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 5 Loser; 10 a.m.
Game 8: Game 7 winner vs. Game 5 winner; 1 p.m.
Game 9: if necessary; 4 p.m.
 
• Tickets are $10 a day for adults and $25 for the week, while student tickets from the five competing schools are $5 with a valid school ID. Children under 12 are free. Parking is $10.
• The Owls finished second in the ASUN Conference standings with an 11-6 mark and went 1-2 in the ASUN Conference Championship.
• The 36 wins by the Owls tie for the third most since moving to the Division I level.
• Kennesaw State ranks in the Top 50 nationally in stolen bases per game, triples per game, doubles per game, batting average, slugging percentage, scoring and ERA.
• Head coach Pete D'Amour is in his first season leading the Kennesaw State program after spending the previous 10 years on the coaching staff at Missouri where he helped the Tigers advance to three Women's College World Series, eight NCAA Super Regionals, and 10 NCAA regionals, while winning two.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Alabama State (21-33, 10-8 SWAC)
• Lost to Texas Southern in SWAC Tournament championship game
• Top Hitter: Valerie Centeno (.399)
• Top Pitcher: Vanessa Bradford (11-13, 4.23 ERA)
• Team Batting Average: .318
• Team ERA: 5.31
• Series Versus Alabama State: Kennesaw State leads, 7-1
• Last Meeting versus Alabama State: 2013, Alabama State won 4-3
 
Georgia State (34-23, 18-9 Sun Belt)
• 1-2 in Sun Belt Conference Tournament
• Top Hitters: Ivie Drake (.372, 45 runs); Megan Litumbe (.347, 18 HRs, 53 RBIs)
• Top Pitcher: Kinsley Jennings (18-11, 3.26 ERA)
• Team Batting Average: .300
• Team ERA: 3.69
• Series Versus Georgia State: Georgia State leads, 18-17
• Last Meeting versus Georgia State: 2017, Kennesaw State won 6-5
 
UT Martin (39-18, 13-5 Ohio Valley)
• 3-2 in Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
• Top Hitters Carly Gonzales (.380 average, 52 runs); Jodie Duncan (.366 average, 9 HRs, 47 RBIs)
• Top Pitcher: Brooke Kennedy (23-7, 2.72 ERA)
• Team Batting Average: .296
• Team ERA: 2.99
• Series Versus UT Martin: Kennesaw State leads, 3-1
• Last Meeting versus UT Martin: 2016, Kennesaw State won 7-6
 
Western Kentucky (29-29, 10-13 C-USA)
• 2-2 in Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
• Top Hitter Jordan Mauch (.380 average, 29 HRs)
• Top Pitcher: Kathryn Downing (16-13, 2.30)
• Team Batting Average: .223
• Team ERA: 3.09
• Series Versus Western Kentucky: Western Kentucky leads, 1-0
• Last Meeting versus Western Kentucky: 2012, Western Kentucky won 9-3
 
UP NEXT
The six regional winners will advance to the double elimination championship round scheduled for May 21-24 at a host site to be determined.
 
RECORD SEVEN PLAYERS EARN ASUN CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
The successful regular by Kennesaw State resulted in a record seven individuals earning ASUN All-Conference honors. Highlighting the list were senior Courtney Sutter and freshman Alley Cutting, who were named Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. Both players were tabbed first-team all-conference, while senior Taylor Denton, Olivia Tamewitz, sophomore Hannah Thomason and junior Noelle Winkles were selected to the second team. Katey Lynch joined Cutting and Tamewitz on the all-freshman team.
 
TAMEWITZ NAMED TOP 25 FINALIST FOR NFCA NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Outfielder Olivia Tamewitz was named as one of 25 finalists for the Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Award, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on Thursday (April 20). The group includes nine infielders, six outfielders, four pitchers, four utility players and two catchers. The list will be pared from 25 to 10 on May 11, to three on May 24, and the National Freshman of the Year announcement is May 30. Tamewitz has started 44 games and is batting .377 with 31 runs scored, 55 hits (nine doubles, seven triples and two home runs) and 26 RBIs, while recording a .575 slugging percentage, .399 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts.
 
2017 KENNESAW STATE HONORS
 
ASUN Pitcher of the Week
Alley Cutting (March 6)
Alley Cutting (March 27)
Logan Viers (April 3)
 
ASUN Player of the Week
Courtney Sutter (Feb. 27)
Courtney Sutter (March 13)
Taylor Denton (April 3)
Hannah Thomason (April 17)
Courtney Sutter (May 2)
 
Fastpitch News NCAA Division I Top
Performer of the Week
Olivia Tamewitz (March 7)
 
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 Finalist
Olivia Tamewitz
 
BATTED BALLS
• With 40 home runs on the season, KSU has surpassed its home run total from a year ago when the Owls hit 18 in 58 games. The total currently ranks sixth on Kennesaw State's single-season home run list and is three shy of tying the 2015 team's 43.
• KSU has four three – Courtney Sutter (No. 4; .379), Hannah Thomason (No.5; .373) and Noelle Winkles (No. 10; .346) – ranked among the ASUN's top 10 in hitting.
• Sutter (.720) leads the ASUN Conference in slugging percentage, home runs (14) and RBIs (49). The Owls' senior has established single-season career highs in home runs, RBIs and runs scored (37). She also leads the Owls with 20 multiple-hit and 12 multiple RBI games.
• Sophomore Hannah Thomason has had a breakout season in 2017. Her .373 average is a career best, and she has established single-season career highs in runs (46), hits (66), and stolen bases (33). Her stolen base total is a KSUs single-season stolen base record.
• Thomason's 54 career stolen bases (in 59 attempts) rank fourth on KSU's all-time list. Denton is currently the Owls' all-time leader with 80.
• Winkles ranks among the top 10 in the country with 18 doubles.
• Olivia Tamewitz is putting together a stellar freshman campaign as she has posted a .341 average, scored 36 runs, and collected 60 hits, including 10 doubles, eight triples and two home runs, while totaling 308 RBIs. She has a .523 slugging percentage, .371 on-base percentage and is 19-for-22 in stolen base attempts. She is third in the nation in triples, and ranks among the ASUN Conference's leaders in batting average, slugging percentage, hits and total bases.
• Five different Owls have had hitting streaks of at least 10 games this season. Hannah Thomason has had 12 and 10-game hitting streaks while Sutter and Tamewitz each have had 11-game streaks, while Beth McCulley and Taylor Denton have produced streaks of 10 games.
• Courtney Sutter and Katey Lynch were KSU's top hitters in ASUN Conference play, posting .362 and .341 averages, respectively. Sutter went 21-for-58, while Lynch finished 15-for-44. Sutter tied for fourth in the ASUN, while Lynch was 10th.
• With 35 home runs, Sutter is fifth on Kennesaw State's all-time career home run list.
 
QUICK PITCHES
• Kennesaw State is third in the ASUN Conference with a 2.33 earned-run average and its 1.67 ERA in conference play ranked second.
• Freshman Alley Cutting is fourth in the ASUN in ERA (2.27), third in strikeouts (176), fifth in wins (17), opponents' average (.227) and in innings pitched (171.2).
• Senior Logan Viers ranks sixth in ERA (2.34), seventh in opponents' batting average (.252), tied for sixth in wins (13) and ninth in strikeouts (73). During ASUN Conference play, the Owls' right-hander is sixth in ERA (2.00), 10th in innings pitched (42.0) and seventh in opponents' batting average (.250).
• Redshirt junior Abby Green has been a key contributor down the stretch for the Owls. She has made 15 appearances, starting six games and recorded a 5-2 record, 1.31 ERA and three saves. She has struck out 47 batters in 48 innings. During ASUN Conference play, she recorded a 2-0 mark, 0.33 ERA and three saves in 21 1/3 innings.

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.
   

 

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