2018 ATLANTA CHALLENGE | FEBRUARY 16-18 | STILLWELL STADIUM

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1. Kennesaw State opens its 35th collegiate season with a 1,206-746-2 (.617) all-time record, and enters 2018 picked to finish fourth in the ASUN after reaching the semifinals in last year's ASUN Championships. 
2. Head Coach Mike Sansing will act as  the Owls' manager for his 27th season, sitting 33 wins away from winning 1,000 career games as a member of the KSU family. Sansing holds a 967-551 (.637) record at Kennesaw State and a 1,069-579 (.648) all-time in 30 seasons. 
3. Associate Head Coach Kevin Erminio will join Coach Sansing for his 12th season with the Black and Gold, marking one of the longest tenured assistant coaches in the ASUN. He will be joined by assistant coach Trey Fowler, who is in his 6th season –and second full season with the Black and Gold --, and volunteer coach Clint Harrison joins the staff for his second season.  
4. KSU enters opening day with an 18-8 overall record and an impressive 15-4 record since Coach Sansing joined the Black and Gold in 1992. The Owls have outscored their opponents 198-134 over 26 season openers. 
5. The Owls return 19 from 2016 and place 16 newcomers on the roster. Kennesaw State will showcase 12 new pitchers and four position players, while eight returning pitchers and 11 position guys all return from a season ago. 
6. Kennesaw State finished 2017 with a 25-32 overall record. The Owls holds winning record in 27 of its first 34 seasons of existence.
7. KSU plays a total of 56 games in the regular season, 36 of them coming at home and 20 on the road. The Owls take on 17 (nine home, nine away) midweek tilts and opens ASUN action on the road at USC Upstate on March 29. 
8. Seniors Grant Williams and Taylor Allum both were selected to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. Williams, a 2017 first team all-conference selection, posted career highs in batting average (.305), hits (68) and RBI (29). 
9. Allum is coming off a career year, hitting 15 home runs in 55 starts. It ranked second in the ASUN and tied KSU's D-I single-season record for homers in a single season. Allum Posted career high numbers in games played (56), starts (55), at-bats (188), runs scored (41), hits (56), HR (15), RBI (46), and slugging percentage of .590.

SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are available for $39 and can be purchased online by CLICKING HERE. You can also reach the ticket box office by calling 470-578-4849 for any season ticket inquiries.

Premium home games include Georgia (Feb. 21), Mercer (Feb. 27), Samford (March 2), North Florida (April 13), Lipscomb (April 20), Georgia State (May 8), Georgia Southern (May 9) and Clemson (May 15), and are priced $10 for single-game tickets. 

SCHEDULE NOTES
• 56 games
• 36 home games at Stillwell Stadium
• 20 road games
• 17 midweek games (9 home/9 away)
• Season opener: Feb. 16 vs. UCONN
• Atlantic Sun Conference opener: March 29 at USC Upstate



MICKEY DUNN
Mickey Dunn (1978-81):Center fielder who in one season with the team went 20-14 overall, registered a .303 batting average while leading the club in games (34), at-bats (132) and runs scored (38); tied for the team lead in total bases with 48 that same year; president/CEO of ML Industries Inc. in McAllen, Texas, since 1990; MLI manufacturers 250,000-plus automotive airbags per week as well as seat covers, wind energy covers, marine covers, military covers and seat inserts for major players in the automotive business; MLI's automotive business continues to evolve with successful manufacturing in both the United States and Mexico.

Mickey played center field for the Hornets from 1978-1981. Mickey hit .383 his freshman season, earning All-Conference and All-District honors, making an immediate impact on the program. He then went on to register a .303 batting average his sophomore season, leading the club with 34 games played, 132 at-bats, 38 runs scored, and tied for the team lead in total bases with 48 that same season that led to a 20-14 overall record. Mickey finished his final two seasons batting .343 and .370, during his junior and senior seasons, respectively.

Mickey now is the President and CEO of ML Industries, a leading manufacturer of items such as airbags and automobile seat covers. More than 400 million vehicles on the road carry Mickey's products and the company has over 100 employees or employees children on full scholarships.

The Department of Athletics, alongside the Owls baseball team, would like to give a warm welcome to Hall of Famer Mickey Dunn as he throws out the ceremonial first pitch of the 2018 baseball season.



Q&A WITH HEAD COACH MIKE SANSING
Q: You are entering your 27^th season as head coach at KSU and sit 33 wins away from 1,000 as an Owl. Have you given much thought in that and what would it would mean reaching that milestone?
A: I didn't realize that was the number until you mentioned it. But yeah, it's year 27 and I've had a lot of great years and runs with a lot of great players on great teams. I'm looking forward to another season at Kennesaw State.
 
Q: Last season, the Owls made a run in the tournament reaching the semifinals in the ASUN Championships. What has the clubhouse been like entering this season coming off that loss and so close to a championship?
A: There hasn't been a huge emphasis about that. I think each team has its own identity and own goal. We talk more about the process of winning and win big, but we haven't sat down and talked about what happened last season.
 
Q: Talk about the mesh of this team with all the newcomers this season playing with a lot of guys that return from a season ago?
A: That's been a focus of ours this year, trying to blend the new guys with the returners. It's been a focus of ours in practice and trying to identify the strengths of our new guys and how they match up with our returners. We have to blend the roster with how we feel comfortable managing the guys.
 
Q: Talk about the newcomers, specifically. Who might have a standout year?
A: Well I think a majority of our newcomers will be showcased in the pitching staff. The guys we lost last year and brought in several junior college pitchers and several high school pitchers. You'll see some freshman start and some junior college guys start on the mound. You'll see a lot of new arms in the backend of the bullpen and fans will see the most change in terms of newcomers on the mound this season. Position wise, Jaylen Smith at third base will be a key contributor, but most of the position guys will be returners.
 
Q: Top returners include Taylor Allum, Garrett Hodges, Terence Norman, Grant Williams and Griffin Helms…talk about those guys and the leadership you look for in them on and off the field?
A: I think both Taylor (Allum) and Grant (Williams) have taken on that role of leadership and try to lead by example on the field and off the field. With a lot of position guys coming back, it's been more of trying to lead the pitching staff.
 
Q: Most of your lineup from a season ago returns. Talk about your team from an offensive standpoint and how you see that side making an impact in 2018?
A: We don't have a lot of depth in our lineup, or position guys in terms of numbers. I think we have good players and there are good players that won't start that have a lot of talent. You'll see a consistent lineup in terms of the personnel.
 
Q: Is there anyone in the Fall or Spring that caught you by surprise and could have a breakout season?
A: AJ Willoughby is one of the guys on this team that can really play anywhere in the infield. That helps us with our depth. Jake Franklin had a really good fall for us as well as Griffin Helms. Franklin will be playing in center field and has played some in the past. I'm hoping this will be a breakout season for him because he's been great in the fall and spring.
 
Q: What are your thoughts on the league as a whole this season?
A: This may be one of the stronger years in terms of competition that I can remember over the past five seasons. The quality of teams and players the ASUN has, you have to look and think anyone has a chance.  
 
Q: Talk about the schedule. What challenges do you face and bringing in some big time opponents.
A: We do have a very good non-conference schedule. It allows our players to play at a high level all the time. The midweek games are competitive and our guys will have to push things with quality teams coming in. You hope those games prepare you for conference play facing quality pitching and hitting.   

GAMEDAY HASHTAGS/ SOCIAL MEDIA HUBS
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Twitter: @KSUOwlNation; @KSUOwlsBaseball; @MikeSansingKSU; @stf3333; @jdorow19
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To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news follow the team on
Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.  
 
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