2022 Schedule
 
JoAnne Graf Classic
Dates: February 11-12, 2022
Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
Game Notes: Click here
 
Tournament Schedule:
>> Kennesaw State vs. Loyola-Chicago | Friday, Feb. 11 at 10:00 a.m. | Live Stats
>> Kennesaw State at No. 4 Florida State | Friday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. | Watch Live | Live Stats
>> Kennesaw State at No. 4 Florida State | Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3:00 p.m. | Watch Live | Live Stats
>> Mercer vs. Kennesaw State | Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. | Live Stats
 
Leading Off
Kennesaw State softball begins the 2022 season Friday right where the 2021 campaign ended in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. Then, KSU notched its first win in a Division I NCAA tournament. This time, the Owls will be in the JoAnne Graf Classic for four games, one each against Loyola-Chicago and Mercer, and two against host school No. 4 Florida State. Kennesaw State is the designated road team for three of the four contests, the only exception being the tournament finale against Mercer.
 
Preseason Storylines
>> The Owls enter 2022 after recording the first Division I NCAA tournament victory in program history last summer.
>> Taylor Cates, Brinaya Bailey and Melanie Bennett were selected to the ASUN preseason All-Conference team.
>> KSU was picked to finish second in the ASUN this season by the preseason coaches poll.
>> Melanie Bennett returns to the circle as the reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year.
>> Laura Bishop (Georgia), Mary Greg Anderson (Alabama) and Emily Perrin (Florida Southwestern State) join the roster as transfers and add to the nine newcomers in 2022.

Familiar (and Unfamiliar) Foes
KSU will be meeting the Seminoles for the fourth and fifth times this weekend. No. 4 Florida State walked away the winner in each of the first three contests, including their meeting in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional last season. The Owls are 11-9 all-time against the Mercer Bears and Sunday's contest will be the first meeting between the two since 2014. This will mark the first-ever meeting between KSU and Loyola-Chicago.

ASUN Rising
The Owls enter 2022 after reaching the ASUN tournament championship game a season ago. KSU was picked to finish second in the conference by coaches from the conference. Taylor Cates, Brinaya Bailey and Melanie Bennett were named to the preseason ASUN All-Conference team.

2021 Rewind
Head coach Tripp MacKay leads the squad after closing out the 2021 campaign in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, where the program earned its first victory in a Division I NCAA tournament game, defeating the Auburn Tigers 1-0. The Owls also dominated in the ASUN tournament, making it all the way to the ASUN championship game against the Liberty Flames.

On Deck
Following the JoAnne Graf Classic, the Owls open the home portion of the 2022 campaign at Bailey Park for a doubleheader against the Samford Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 18. Admission is free and the game can be viewed on the KSU Owl Network YouTube channel.

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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