Preseason Preview | 2017 Final Stats | 2018 Roster | 2018 Schedule

LEADING OFF
* The Kennesaw State softball program opens its 33rd season and 12th at the NCAA Division I level when it travels to Kissimmee, Fla., to compete in the Orange Blossom Tournament that opens on Friday (Feb. 16) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (ET).
* The field includes Hofstra, Bethune-Cookman, Quinnipiac, Northern Iowa and LIU Brooklyn, with the Owls opening against Hofstra.
* Kennesaw State was originally scheduled to open its season at the Southeastern Louisiana Tournament on Feb. 9, but the event was cancelled due to rain.
* The 2018 season marks the second under head coach Pete D'Amour, who took the reins on Sept. 16, 2016, and guided Kennesaw State to a 40-20 record and postseason appearance in 2017. The Owls finished second in the ASUN Conference and made their first postseason showing at the NCAA Division I level, finishing third in the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship. KSU was ranked No. 47 nationally in the final RPI rankings.
* Kennesaw State returns 13 letter winners from a year ago and has added 11 newcomers to the roster.
* The 2018 roster is highlighted by sophomore pitcher Alley Cutting (2017 ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year) and outfielders Olivia Tamewitz, Hannah Thomason and Noelle Winkles, who earned All-ASUN Conference second team honors a year ago. Cutting was selected ASUN Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year in a vote by the league coaches.
 
ORANGE BLOSSOM TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, February 16
12 p.m.	Kennesaw State vs. Hofstra
5 p.m.	Kennesaw State vs. Bethune-Cookman
Saturday, February 17
1:30 p.m.	Kennesaw State vs. Quinnipiac
4 p.m.	Kennesaw State vs. Northern Iowa
Sunday, February 18
9 a.m.	Kennesaw State vs. LIU Brooklyn

ORANGE BLOSSOM TOURNAMENT FIELD
* Bethune-Cookman:  The Wildcats are 2-3 after opening the season at the Florida Atlantic Kickoff Classic last week. Bethune-Cookman posted wins over Boston University and Northern Illinois, and was defeated by Florida Atlantic (twice) and Michigan State. The Wildcats registered a 24-33 overall record and 11-4 mark in the MEAC in 2017. Sophomore outfielder Ryan Jackson is Bethune-Cookman's top hitter after batting .412 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs as a freshman. Sophomore Mariah Estrada is the Wildcats' top returning pitcher after posting a 7-7 record and 4.02 ERA in 29 appearances.
* Hofstra: The Pride enter the weekend 3-2 after recording a 3-2 mark at the FIU Felsberg Invitational hosted by Florida International. Hofstra recorded wins over FIU (2) and East Carolina, and lost twice to South Carolina. The Pride went 27-23 overall, including an 11-8 mark in Colonial Athletic Association play, in 2017. Sophomore infielder Kristin Hallam returns as Hofstra's top hitter after batting .378 with 36 runs scored, 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Sophomore Sarah Cornell leads the Pride in the circle after going 17-12 with a 3.28 ERA in 33 appearances.
* Northern Iowa: The Panthers are 4-1 after competing in the UNI-Dome Classic where they defeated Southeast Missouri State (twice), Wisconsin-Green Bay and South Dakota State before concluding the weekend with a loss to Missouri-Kansas City. Sophomore shortstop Sammey Bunch led Northern Iowa, earning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors after batting .643 with nine hits, 14 total bases, five runs scored and five RBIs. Sophomore Jaclyn Spencer is the Panthers' ace after registering a 14-8 record, 2.51 ERA and 147 strikeouts while making 29 appearances and throwing 133 2/3 innings.
* Quinnipiac: This weekend's tournament marks the season opener for the Bobcats, who are coming off a 23-27 season in 2017 that included a 9-11 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Junior Rebecca Drake is Quinnipiac's top hitter after leading the club with a .407 average, 66 hits, 16 doubles and 28 RBIs. Sophomore Abbey Long leads the Bobcats in the circle after recording an 11-11 record and 3.39 ERA in 25 appearances a year ago.  
* LIU Brooklyn: The Blackbirds opened their 2018 season at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational and went 0-5 against FGCU, Ball State, Memphis, North Carolina State and Georgetown. LIU Brooklyn went 20-32, including a 6-10 mark in the Northeast Conference, in 2017. Senior Victoria Zamora returns as the Blackbirds' top hitter after batting .380 with 42 runs scored, 12 doubles, five home runs and 32 RBIs. Senior Erynn Sobieski recorded a 10-13 record and 4.24 ERA in 34 appearances in 2017.

KENNESAW STATE VERSUS THE FIELD
* Bethune-Cookman: Kennesaw State leads the all-time series, 2-0. The two programs last met during the 2009 campaign, and KSU recorded 11-3 and 12-1 victories in Daytona Beach, Fla. 
* Hofstra: Friday's game will mark the first meeting between the two programs. 
* Northern Iowa: The Owls and Panthers will meet for the first time on Saturday.
* Quinnipiac: The Owls captured the only meeting between the two programs, posting an 8-0 victory at the 2008 Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.
* LIU Brooklyn: Sunday's game will mark the first meeting between the Blackbirds and Owls. 
 
ASUN PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Coming off a 40-win season that included a postseason berth plus a solid nucleus returning, Kennesaw State was picked to finish first in the 2018 ASUN Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released on Jan. 17. The Owls, who received four first-place votes and totaled 46 points to finish ahead of defending conference champion USC Upstate (43 points, 2 first-place votes), garnered the top spot in the poll for the first time since joining the ASUN Conference prior to the 2006 season. KSU was ranked second in the preseason coaches' poll on three different occasions (2007, 2008, 2013).
 
ASUN Preseason Rankings

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Votes
1.	Kennesaw State (4)	46
2.	USC Upstate (2)	43
3.	Florida Gulf Coast (1)	31
4.	Lipscomb	29
5.	North Florida	23
6.	Jacksonville	13
7.	Stetson	11

CUTTING TABBED ASUN PRESEASON CO-PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Sophomore Alley Cutting was named ASUN Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year, along with Lipscomb's Mandy Jordan, and selected to the all-conference team. She was also named the ASUN's Preseason Pitcher of the Year in a vote by the fans. The Owls right-hander posted a 20-10 record, 2.19 ERA, 16 complete games and two saves while making 38 appearances, including 31 starts. She worked 201 1/3 innings, allowed 63 earned runs, walked 49 and struck out 186 batters en route to earning ASUN Freshman of The Year and first team all-conference honors.
 
SOLID NUCLEUS RETURNS IN 2018
Including Alley Cutting, the Owls return five players who earned ASUN Conference accolades in 2017. Senior Noelle Winkles (.360, 8 HR, 41 RBI), junior Hannah Thomason (.354, 47 R, 33 SB) and sophomore Olivia Tamewitz (.342, 31 RBI, 19 SB), who earned second team All-ASUN Conference recognition a year ago, are back to form a talented outfield, while sophomore utility player Katey Lynch (.285, 4 HR, 28 RBI) also returns after garnering all-freshman team honors.
 
IN THE BATTER'S BOX
Led by ASUN Conference Player of the Year and senior Courtney Sutter, the Owls led the ASUN Conference in nine offensive categories last year, including runs (302), hits (505), doubles (83), triples (19), home runs (45), RBIs (270), total bases (761), batting average (.303) and slugging percentage (.456). In addition, KSU ranked among the top 50 nationally in batting average.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
The Owls ranked third in the ASUN Conference with a 2.40 ERA, while freshman Alley Cutting finished third in the conference in wins (20) and strikeouts (186), and fifth in ERA (2.19), while junior Abbigail Green tied for the conference lead with four saves.
 
HEAD COACH PETE D'AMOUR
* Head coach Pete D'Amour enters his second season as Kennesaw State head coach after spending the prior 10 seasons at the University of Missouri.
* In his first season guiding the Owls, D'Amour led KSU to 40-20 overall record National Invitational Softball Championship Region 5 title and a No. 47 ranking in the final RPI rankings.
* While at Mizzou, D'Amour helped the Tigers post a 453-154 (.746) record, advance to three Women's College World Series (2009, 2010, 2011), reach eight NCAA Division I Super Regionals, and participate in 10 NCAA Regionals.
* During D'Amour's tenure, Missouri won two Big 12 Conference championships and earned 10 straight Top 20 national rankings.
* Primarily responsible for working with the pitchers and catchers, D'Amour watched Tigers pitcher throw 11 no-hitters, while mentoring 11 All-Americans, two SEC Freshen of the Year, three conference Pitchers of the Year, a national earned-run average leader, and a Defensive Player of the Year. 
 
UP NEXT
The Owls make the 2018 season debut on Friday, Feb. 23, when they host Rutgers in during the opening day of the Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament. First pitch at Bailey Park is 5 p.m. Admission to all home softball games is free.

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. You can also follow head coach Pete D'Amour at @KSUSBCoach.
 
To learn more about The Owls Fund visit www.ksuowls.com/theowlsfund.
 


 

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