FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Kennesaw State will play in its last preseason tournament of the season west of the Mississippi River as the Owls head to Colorado State to face Idaho State, Purdue and the host Rams this weekend.
 
Saturday's game against Colorado State will be available on the Mountain West Network. Live stats for all games are available at ksuowls.com.
 
Last Time Out

• Kennesaw State is coming off a 4-1 weekend at the I-75 Challenge after sweeping Rider, splitting with Iowa State, and knocking off Penn State.
• The Owls are now 13-6 all-time at the I-75 Challenge, and the win over Penn State was the team's first win over a Big Ten opponent since defeating Illinois in 2017.
• KSU's win over Penn State was the first extra-inning game for the Owls this season. KSU went 1-2 in extra-inning games last year.

 
Offense sells tickets…

• The Owls have been dangerous at the plate this season, ranking seventh in the nation in batting average at .349.
• Extra base hits have been aplenty for KSU as the Owls are ninth in the nation in doubles with 36 and are ranked fifth in the nation in triples with nine.
• Brea Dickey has already doubled her triple output from last season, ranking fourth in the nation with four.
• Cheyanne Sales has burst onto the scene in her freshman season, leading the team with 19 RBI and her eight doubles rank in the top-15 in the nation.
• The Owls offense has outscored opponents 129-50.

 
…defense wins championships

• The Owl defense has been a brick wall this season, allowing just 2.5 runs per game.
• Abby Deane has had a solid start to her senior season. The Eureka, Mo. native has a 1.62 ERA and two shutouts.
• Mel Bennett has become a household name in the ASUN, striking out 35 batters and walking just eight.
• The Owls .969 fielding percentage ranks in the top-50 nationally.

 
Road Warriors

After playing 10 of the last 11 games at Bailey Park, KSU will be on the road for eight-straight matchups and for 11 of the next 12 games, the only break being a midweek show down in Kennesaw on Mar. 19 against Oklahoma State.
 
Feel the Power
 
KSU is 3-3 this season against Power Five competition, picking up wins over Iowa State, Auburn and Penn State. In 2018 and 2019 combined, the Owls went just 2-10 against P5 schools. Kennesaw State has remaining games against Purdue, Oklahoma State, Clemson and a rematch with Georgia Tech in the annual Lexi's Day game on April 15 at Bailey Park.
 
Scouting the Opposition

• Idaho State enters the weekend with a 4-12 record after going 1-3 at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. last weekend.
• KSU has never faced Idaho State. The Owls are 2-0 all-time against current Big Sky teams, with wins over Northern Colorado and Weber State.
• Emma Bordenkecher leads the Bengals statistically with a .467 batting average, three home runs and five RBI.
• Bengals coach Cristal Brown is in her first season.
• Colorado State enters the weekend with a 9-9 record after going 1-3 at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
• This will be the first meeting between KSU and Colorado State. The Owls have never faced a team from the Mountain West Conference.
• Ashley Ruiz leads the Rams with a .291 batting average, 12 RBI and a home run.
• Jen Fisher is in her 10^thseason as head coach at CSU and has an overall record of 246-225.
• Purdue enters the weekend with a 14-6 record after going 2-3 at the JU/UNF Classic last weekend in Jacksonville, Fla.
• KSU leads the series against the Boilermakers 2-0 with both wins coming in Starkville, Miss. on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, 2007.
• Madison Douglass leads Purdue with a .367 batting average, 13 RBI and two home runs.
• Purdue is coached by Boo De Oliveira who has a record of 54-110 in four seasons.

 
Next Up
 
The Owls will continue the road trip, opening conference play next weekend in Ft. Meyers, Fla. against FGCU.
 

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