By: Michael Pitts
2022 Schedule | 2022 Promotional Schedule
Kennesaw State (4-8, 0-0)
vs. Georgia Tech (14-2, 0-0)
Dates: Wednesday, March 2
Location: Bailey Park | Kennesaw, Ga.
Follow Along: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Game Notes: Click here
Alexis Kaiser Foundation Donations: Click here
Leading Off
Lexi's Day returns to Bailey Park as the Kennesaw State softball team hosts the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for a midweek faceoff against the in-state adversary.
The Owls enter Wednesday coming off a 2-2 record in the I-75 Challenge with wins against East Tennessee State and Georgia State.
Hall of Fame KSU softball head coach and Lexi's Day co-founder
Scott Whitlock will be on the call with Jordan Griffitt on ESPN+. Fans can tune in to the action
here.
Lexi's Day 2022
KSU partners with the Alexis Kaiser Foundation to raise money for children in the community with neuromuscular ailments. The beloved tradition returns after a two-year absence due to COVID.
This year Lexi's Day will honor Steele Ray, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
In a pregame ceremony, Steele will be presented with a gift from the Alexis Kaiser Foundation.
The teams will also honor the event's namesake, Lexi Kaiser, who graduates from high school in May.
The first 150 fans who purchase a meal ticket
here will receive food courtesy of a generous donation from new Lexi's Day partner J.D.'s Barbeque.
More details about Lexi's Day can be found
here.
Weekend Storylines
>> Taylor Cates leads the team in home runs (6), runs (11), hits (14), batting average (.378), OPS % (1.309), RBI (14), total bases (34) and slugging percentage (.919). She was named ASUN Player of the Week by the conference on Monday, Feb. 28.
>> Cheyanne Sales has at least one base hit in nine of her last 11 games and leads the team with five doubles.
>> Melanie Bennett has five complete games in six starts this season and leads the team in wins (2). She pitched six innings allowing only one hit in a win against ETSU on Friday.
>> University of Alabama transfer Mary Anderson leads the team with five stolen bases in 2022.
>> Pitcher
Emily Perrin leads the team in ERA (3.26) and has allowed only three earned runs in her last 14.2 innings pitched.
Familiar Foes
Georgia Tech enters the game winning 14 of its first 16 games, including each of its last seven.
The Owls' opponent leads the series, 20-7 and won the last meeting in a 3-2 decision in Atlanta on April 25, 2021.
KSU walked away victorious in the last contest between the two at Bailey Park, winning 5-2 on April 23, 2021. The Owls look to win back-to-back meetings in Kennesaw for the first time in the series' history.
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
After Lexi's Day, the Owls head to Fayetteville, Ark. for the Razorback Rumble on Friday, March 4 through Sunday, March 6. The Black and Gold square off against Kansas City, Missouri State and the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks for five games during the weekend.
KSU returns to Bailey Park on Wednesday, March 16 for a showdown against the Auburn Tigers set for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch. Admission is free and fans can follow the action on ESPN+.
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.
