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KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State's softball team opens its 2021 spring season against No. 15/16 Virginia Tech Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 13-14) at Bailey Park. Saturday's game will be a doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m.
 
This will be the first game KSU has played since March 8 due COVID-19 canceling the remainder of the 2020 season.

Attendance at Bailey Park for KSU softball games will be limited to 80, consisting of those on the team's pass list, and at least 15 KSU students. KSU students can present a valid student I.D. for admission. For members of the pass list, please visit the entrance to Bailey Park with your I.D. Seating will be spaced to ensure social distancing amongst fans.

Storylines

• The KSU softball team will enter its 15th season of Division 1 competition with high expectations under year three of Head Coach Tripp MacKay.
• The team finished its 2020 season with a record of 21-4.
• The Owls were predicted to finish second for the 2021 season according to the ASUN Conference coaches' poll. The 2021 conference tournament will be held at Bailey Park in Kennesaw, Ga. (May 14-16).
• The Owls return 17 players, including Preseason ASUN All-Conference Team honorees, Cheyanne Sales, Taylor Cates and Brea Dickey.
• Cates and Solorzano had four homeruns and 22 RBIs to lead the team.
• Melanie Bennett finished the 2020 season with a 1.85 ERA, logging 48 K's and seven wins.
• Marcela Lopez, Hannah Thomason, Lexi Solorzano, Raleigh Williams, Andrea Summey and Dickey headline the senior class.
• KSU has a challenging non-conference slate and will compete against seven Power-Five conference schools such as Georgia, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Florida, Tennessee, and Clemson.

Scouting the Opposition
 
• Pete D'Amour returns to KSU on Saturday. D'Amour was named the head coach at VT in 2018 after two seasons with the Owls. In his final year with KSU D'Amour earned ASUN Coach of the Year after leading the Owls to a NCAA Regional appearance.
• The Hokies went 21-4 overall and 3-0 in conference play in 2020 before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. VT is predicted to finish second in the ACC this year.
• Keely Rochard, Kelsey Bennett and Jayme Bailey were named to the Preseason All-ACC team.
• Rochard led the NCAA with seven shutouts, 15 wins and 183 strikeouts. Collecting eight awards on the 2020 season.
• The sophomore Bennett led the Hokies with 25 RBIs, registered seven homeruns, a .794 slugging percentage, four doubles and two triples. Bailey started 25 games, had a slugging percentage of .679, recorded four homeruns, three triples and five doubles on the 2020 season.

This weekend's series against Virginia Tech will be the second meeting between the two programs. The Hokies collected a 4-3 win on their last visit in 2013.
 
Next Up
 
The Owls hit the road for the Chattanooga Challenge on Feb. 19-21. Where they are scheduled to face Western Kentucky, Indiana State and UT Chattanooga.

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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