FLORIDA GULF COAST (14-12, 0-0) at KENNESAW STATE (17-14, 2-1)
Date: March 23-24
Time: Saturday: 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m.
Location: Bailey Park
Game 1: Live Stats | Watch
Game 2: Live Stats | Watch 
Game 3: Live Stats | Watch
KSU Notes

LEADING OFF 
» The Kennesaw State softball team returns to action this weekend when it hosts Florida Gulf Coast in a three-game series beginning Saturday at Bailey Park. The series opens with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
» The Owls (17-14, 2-1) are seeking a second straight series victory over the Eagles (14-12, 0-0) and to improve upon a three-game winning streak against FGCU.
» Live stats for all three games will be available through KSUOwls.com and live streams can be accessed on the KSU You Tube channel, KSUOwlsvision.
 
GAME DAY STORYLINES        
» The Owls (15-13), the defending ASUN Conference champions, are winners of 12 of their last 15 games. KSU is coming off a series victory over Liberty last weekend at Bailey Park after posting a pair of come-from-behind victories (3-2, 5-4) to open the series before falling in the finale.
» During its last 15 games, the Owls are batting .311 as a team and has posted a 2.50 ERA.
» Senior Maddie Roth and junior Hannah Thomason, the top two batters in KSU's lineup. have led the offense, combining to go 29-for-87 (.333) with 29 runs scored, eight doubles and 16 RBIs.
» Roth is batting .413 (19-for-46) with 13 runs scored, six doubles, a home run, 13 RBIs, .609 slugging percentage and .518 on-base percentage.
» Thomason has recorded a .390 average (16-for-41) with 16 runs scored, two doubles, three RBIs, 13 walks and eight stolen bases while posting a .437 on-base percentage.
» During the last 15 games, senior Hailey Andrews has made eight starts and registered a 7-1 record and 1.22 ERA with six complete games and a save. In 51 2/3 innings, the KSU right-hander has allowed nine earned runs and struck out 62.
» 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).
 
FGCU SCOUTING REPORT
The Eagles enter the weekend with a 14-12 mark and are coming off a 6-0 victory over Columbia on Wednesday. FGCU is batting .259 as a team and a team ERA of 1.81. The Eagles have three players batting .300 or better and are led by Kate Kelly who tops the club with a .353 average and team-high tying 14 runs scored. Riley Randolph leads the pitching staff with an 11-5 record and 0.70 ERA while striking out 127 batters in 100 2/3 innings pitched.
 
SERIES VERSUS FGCU
Florida Gulf Coast and Kennesaw State have met 33 times and the Eagles lead the all-time series, 21-12. The Owls have had the upper hand in recent games, winning three straight, including a dramatic 4-2 walk-off victory in the semifinals of the 2018 ASUN Conference Championships. KSU also captured two of three contests at FGCU during the regular season.
 
OFFENISVE OUTPUT
» The Owls entered the week leading the ASUN Conference in runs scored (153), hits (233), home runs (24), RBIs (139), on-base percentage (.386), slugging percentage (.450), and second in average (.295).
» Sophomore catcher Lexi Solorzano tops the ASUN Conference with a career-high eight home runs and is fourth with a team-leading 21 RBIs.
» Roth tops the Owls with nine multiple-hit and six-multiple RBI games, and has reached base safely in 17 straight games.
» Roth is fifth in the ASUN Conference with 35 hits, tied for second in runs scored (25) and doubles (9), third in on-base percentage (.483) and fifth in RBIs (20).  She also ranks among the conference's top 10 in average (7th) and slugging percentage (7th).
» Despite missing seven games with an injury, junior Jade Lee has put up impressive since returning to the lineup. She is batting .353 with 13 runs scored, 24 hits, eight doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs, while posting a .559 slugging percentage and .405 on-base percentage.
» Lee is sixth in the ASUN with 19 RBIs and tied for fifth with eight doubles.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
» Senior Hailey Andrews leads the Owls with nine wins, 17 appearances, 11 complete games, 96 2/3 innings pitched and 101 strikeouts. 
» Andrews entered the week among the ASUN Conference's top 10 in innings pitched (2nd), strikeouts (3rd), wins (T-1st) and appearances (T-3rd). 
 
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS
» Redshirt junior Hannah Thomason is nearing the Kennesaw State NCAA Division I record for career stolen bases. She has 11 stolen bases and ranks second all-time with 74 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.
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video