By: Al Barba
Kennesaw State (15-11) at Jacksonville State (11-6)
Date: March 13
Location: Jacksonville, Ala.
Game 1: Live Stats |
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Game 2: Live Stats |
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KSU Notes
LEADING OFF
» The Kennesaw State softball team travels to Alabama on Wednesday for a mid-week doubleheader at Jacksonville State beginning at 5 p.m. (ET). The doubleheader represents the Owls' final tune-up before the start of ASUN Conference play that begins this weekend.
» Kennesaw State (15-11) enters the week on a roll, having won 10 in a row, including all six games in last weekend's Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament.
» Live stats for Wednesday's doubleheader will be available through KSUOwls.com and on ESPN+. Fans can purchase the digital platform for $4.99 a month or $49.99 for a year's subscription that provides access to all events broadcast on the network.
GAME DAY STORYLINES
» The Owls have won 10 in a row and 14 of their last 17 games.
» During its 10-game winning streak, KSU is batting .337 as a team and has posted a 1.59 ERA, allowing 15 earned runs in 66 innings.
» Freshman
Katie Greep and
Maddie Roth have led the offense, combining to go 25-for-57 (.438) with 18 runs scored, five doubles, four home runs and 19 RBIs.
» Greep has recorded a .462 average (12-for-26) with eight runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs while posting an .885 slugging percentage and .516 on-base percentage.
» Roth is batting .419 (13-for-31) with 10 runs scored, three doubles, a home run, 10 RBIs, .613 slugging percentage and .514 on-base percentage.
» During the Owls' current winning streak, senior
Hailey Andrews has made five starts and registered a 5-0 record and 0.22 ERA with three complete games and a save. In 31 2/3 innings, the KSU right-hander has allowed 16 hits, one earned run, walked nine and struck out 45 while limiting the opposition to a .148 average.
» Kennesaw State is in a stretch of playing 18 of 23 games at Bailey Park during the month of March. The mid-week trip to Jacksonville State will mark the Owls only trip outside the state of Georgia and will be at home every weekend during the month.
» Kennesaw State is in its first season under the direction of first-year head coach
Tripp MacKay. MacKay took over the reign from Pete D'Amour who left to take the head coaching position at Virginia Tech. The Owls' rookie head coach comes to Kennesaw after spending the previous two seasons at the University of Texas where he helped the Longhorns to a 66-52 record and a pair of NCAA Regional appearances.
» Prior to his stint in Austin, MacKay served nine seasons at the University of Oklahoma and was instrumental in helping the Sooners advance to postseason play each year and make three Women's College World Series appearances.
» The Owls reached new heights in 2018 season as they posted a 39-17 overall record, including a 14-3 mark in ASUN Conference play. KSU captured the outright regular-season and conference tournament titles and advanced to NCAA Division I Regional play for the first time in program history.
» For the first time since moving to the NCAA Division I level in 2006, the Owls appeared in the national rankings. Kennesaw State received 21 votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll to finish the year ranked No. 27.
» Kennesaw State also had a strong show in the RPI Rankings, finishing the year at No. 43.
THOMASON ASUN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior
Hannah Thomason was named ASUN Conference Player of the Week on March 11. She was honored for the second time in her career. Thomason was a catalyst at the top of the lineup in helping the Owls to a 7-0 record during the week. She batted .421 (8-for-19) with nine runs scored, a double, triple and two RBIs while posting a .579 slugging percentage and .577 on-base percentage. Combined with seven walks, Thomason reached base in 15 of 26 plate appearances. She also stole four bases, hit safely in six of seven games and reached base and scored a run in each game.
THE ROSTER
The Owls return 16 letter winners, including five starters from a year ago and have added seven newcomers to the roster. Highlighting the list of returners are seniors
Maddie Roth (NFCA Third Team All-American),
Kira Czyrklis (First Team All-ASUN), junior
Olivia Gocke (Second Team All-ASUN) and sophomore
Lexi Solorzano (ASUN All-Freshman).
JACKSONVILLE STATE SCOUTING REPORT
The Gamecocks begin the week 11-6 following a 2-3 record at the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic in Lubbock, Texas over the weekend. Jacksonville State is batting .296 as a team and has a collective ERA of 4.02. The Gamecocks have six players batting .300 or better and are led by Taylor Beshears, who is hitting .439 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs. Faith Sims leads JSU in the circle with a 7-1 record and 2.21 ERA. She has struck out 52 batters in 57 innings.
SERIES VERSUS JACKSONVILLE STATE
Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State have met 16 times and the Gamecocks lead the all-time series, 10-6. The two teams last met during the 2018 NCAA Tallahassee Regional and Jacksonville State posted a 5-3 victory in 10 innings.
OFFENISVE OUTPUT
» The Owls lead the ASUN Conference in runs scored (136), hits (198), home runs (22), RBIs (127) and on-base percentage (.396).
» The Kennesaw State pitching staff leads the ASUN Conference with 140 strikeouts.
» Sophomore catcher
Lexi Solorzano tops the ASUN Conference with a career-high seven home runs and is second with a team-leading 19 RBIs. She also tied with senior
Maddie Roth and junior
Jade Lee with five multiple RBI games.
» Roth tops the Owls with seven multiple-hit games and is currently batting .448 (13-for-29) with three doubles a home run and 10 RBIs.
» Roth ranks second in the ASUN Conference in runs (22), hits (29), fifth in RBIs (17), and on-base percentage (.474), and ninth in average (.362) and slugging percentage (.575).
» Despite missing seven games with an injury, junior
Jade Lee has put up impressive since returning to the lineup. She is batting .385 with 10 runs scored, 20 hits, seven doubles, two home runs and 18 RBIs, while posting a .635 slugging percentage and .429 on-base percentage.
» Lee is tied for second in ASUN with seven doubles and third with 18 RBIs.
IN THE CIRCLE
» Senior
Hailey Andrews leads the Owls with seven wins, 14 appearances, 12 complete games, 76 2/3 innings pitched and 84 strikeouts.
» Andrews ranks among the ASUN Conference's top 10 in innings pitched (1st), complete games (T-1st), wins, (2nd) and strikeouts (84).
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS
» Redshirt junior
Hannah Thomason is nearing the Kennesaw State NCAA Division I record for career stolen bases. She has seven stolen bases and ranks second all-time with 69 stolen bases.
Taylor Denton (2014-17) is the career record-holder with 80.
» Junior
Olivia Gocke is also making a run up the career stolen base list. She is 5-for-6 this season ranks eighth all-time with 43 career thefts.
SENIOR JESSIE MULLEN HONORED
Senior shortstop
Jessie Mullen was honored on Feb. 15 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida as the 2019 All Sports Association of Northwest Florida Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year. Mullen prepped at Niceville High School in Niceville, Florida.
KSU PICKED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
Kennesaw State, which begins the season as the reigning ASUN Conference regular-season and conference tournament champion, was voted to finish third by the league's coaches after receiving one first-place vote and 47 points. ASUN newcomer Liberty earned the poll's top spot, garnering five first-place votes and 61 points. FGCU was picked second after receiving two first-place votes and 56 points.
ASUN Preseason Rankings
| Rank |
Team (First Place Votes) |
Votes |
| 1. |
Liberty (5) |
61 |
| 2. |
FGCU (2) |
56 |
| 3. |
Kennesaw State (1) |
47 |
| 4. |
Lipscomb |
44 |
| 5. |
North Florida |
24 |
| 6. |
Jacksonville |
22 |
| 7. |
North Alabama |
20 |
| 8. |
Stetson |
14 |
THREE OWLS EARN PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
The Kennesaw State softball team had three individuals named to the 2019 ASUN Conference Preseason All-Conference team following a vote of the conference coaches.
Seniors
Kira Czyrklis and
Maddie Roth were selected at the outfield and utility positions, respectively, while sophomore catcher
Lexi Solorzano was a unanimous pick.
ALL-AMERICAN STATUS
Junior utility
Maddie Roth became the first Kennesaw State Division I softball player to earn garner All-American honors when she was named to the third team by the NFCA. Roth, who also was also an NFCA All-South Region first team selection, concluded the year with a .377 average, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI.
OWLS RETURN FOUR ASUN CONFERENCE HONOREES
Kennesaw State returns four players who earned ASUN Conference honors following the 2018 season.
Seniors
Kira Czyrklis (OF, First Team) and
Maddie Roth (UT, Second Team), junior
Olivia Gocke (OF, Second) and sophomore
Lexi Solorzano (C, Freshman Team) highlight the cast of returning players.
Roth (Most Valuable Player), Czyrklis and Solorzano were also named the ASUN Championship All-Tournament team.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
The Owls' 55-game schedule includes 29 opponents, 20 of which finished the 2018 season with winning records, and 15 clubs that won 30 or game games.
The Kennesaw State home schedule includes 28 games, including visits from Ohio (Feb. 9), Hofstra (Mar. 1), Fordham (Mar. 3), Liberty (Mar. 15-16) and North Alabama (Apr. 19-20). All five teams advanced to NCAA postseason play last season, with North Alabama advancing at the NCAA Division II level.
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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