ASUN QUARTERFINALS
KENNESAW STATE (22-22, 10-5) vs. NORTH ALABAMA (19-17, 5-7) 
Date:  May 7-8
Time: Friday: 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.; Saturday: 1 p.m. (if needed)
Location: Bailey Park | Kennesaw. Ga.
Game 1 Live Stats | Game 2 Live Stats 
Watch Game 1 ESPN+ | Watch Game 2 ESPN+
 
Tournament Bracket | KSU Notes | UNA Notes

LEADING OFF
» Kennesaw State, the No. 2 seed in the ASUN North Division is set to host North Alabama, No. 3 North seed for the ASUN Quarterfinals beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, May 7 at 2 p.m.
» The Owls enter their 11th conference tournament Friday, having qualified for postseason play every year since becoming eligible at the Division I level.
» KSU is 12-18 all-time in the conference tournament.
» The Owls enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the north division after falling just short of the No. 1 north seed Liberty in the regular season. KSU had previously been a No. 5 seed in the last ASUN Tournament.

GAME DAY STORYLINES
» KSU closed out the regular season falling to Liberty in Kennesaw on Saturday and Sunday (May 1-2). Christen Florence was 4-9 at the plate and held a .444 batting average and a .444 slugging percentage. She finished the weekend with a .933 fielding percentage, logging nine putouts and five assists.
» As a team, the Owls rank tied for first in the league with nine triples on the year. KSU is ranked second in the league with 33 home runs while ranked third for runs scored (166), slugging percentage (.399), RBIs (159) and fourth for doubles (49). 
» Three Owls currently rank among the league's top-10 for home runs, Taylor Cates is second with 12, followed by Lexi Solorzano and Brea Dickey in sixth with seven.

COVID-19 POLICIES
» Attendance at Bailey Park for the ASUN Conference Tournament will be limited to 120, consisting of those on both team's pass list.
» 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.
» All fans in attendance at KSU athletic events must observe social distancing and are required to wear face coverings at all times.
» Should there be any remaining inventory from the pass list, walk up ticket sales will be on a first come first serve basis.

IN THE CIRCLE
» Sophomore Melanie Bennett leads the league with 16 wins, is tied for first with three saves and ranks second with 141 strikeouts this season.
» Lindsey Kyte tossed a season-high six strikeouts against Liberty in game three.
 
IN THE BATTERS BOX
» Dickey has led the Owls all season offensively with a .362 batting average, a .610 slugging percentage, 10 doubles and scored 31 runs on 51 hits.
» Faith Alexander is 11-11 on stolen bases/ attempts this season.
» The Owls have recorded a total of 32 hits in their last five outings.
» Junior Cates leads the team in home runs (12) and RBIs (33). 
 
PLAYING THE FIELD
» Dickey has logged 67 putouts and maintains a perfect fielding percentage.
» All together, the Owls have turned 10 double plays on the year, placing them fifth in the conference
» Lexi Solorzano is ranked fifth in the league and Florence is ranked sixth, helping to turn and complete eight and six double plays, respectively.
» Cates ranks seventh in the league with 75 total assists.
 
NORTH ALABAMA SCOUTING REPORT
»The Lions are 19-17 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
» UNA has won one of its last seven conference games.
» Harley Stokes leads the Lions offensively scoring 24 runs on 24 hits, recording three doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 25 RBIs.
» Megan Garst leads the UNA pitching staff with a 2.60 ERA, 9-9 record, giving up 47 runs on 94 hits, while striking out 111.

SERIES VERSUS NORTH ALABAMA
»The series between KSU and UNA marks the ninth meeting between the two programs.
» The Owls lead the series 4-3.
» KSU defeated the Lions 2-0 on March 28 to give them their first series sweep of the season.
» UNA defeated the Owls 8-5 in the 2019 ASUN Quarterfinals.

ASUN PRESEASON POLL
»The Owls were voted second overall in the ASUN preseason poll by the conference's coaches, receiving 67 total points.
 

2021 ASUN Spring Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
Pl.	Team	1st Place Votes	Points	2020 Record
1.	Liberty	5	73	10-13
2.	Kennesaw State	1	67	21-4
3.	FGCU	2	62	19-8
4.	Lipscomb	1	53	12-10
5.	North Alabama		50	16-7
6.	North Florida		41	12-6
7.	Jacksonville		28	15-11
8.	Stetson		17	12-15
9.	Bellarmine		14	5-4

 

POSTSEASON PLAY
» The Owls have qualified for the ASUN Tournament every year since becoming postseason eligible in 2010.
» Last year's ASUN Tournament Championship was canceled due to COVID-19, Lipscomb still remains the reigning Conference Championships.
» The Owls are 12-18 overall in the ASUN Tournament, earning its fourth top-two seed in the conference.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
» If the Owls win their opener, they will go on to face the winner of No. 1 south seed FGCU and No. 4 south seed Stetson Thursday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m.

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
 

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