2022 Schedule | 2022 Promotional Schedule
 
Kennesaw State (6-12, 0-0 ASUN) at Sam Houston (8-10, 3-0 WAC)
Date: Wednesday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. EST
Location: Bearkat Softball Complex – Huntsville, Texas
Live Stats: Game One | Game Two
 
Leading Off
 
The road trip continues for the Kennesaw State softball team with a trip to Huntsville, Texas to take on the Sam Houston Bearkats for the first time in the program's history.
 
KSU is riding high after winning two of its last three games in the Razorback Rumble, including a 10-8 victory over the Kansas City Roos courtesy of a go-ahead grand slam from Cheyanne Sales. The weekend ended with a 7-1 rout of the Roos Sunday.
 
Sam Houston enters Wednesday after sweeping a three-game series against Lamar University (4-14, 0-3 WAC) to open its conference slate.
 
This rare midweek doubleheader starts at 5:00 p.m. EST for game one.
 
Gameday Storylines
>> Taylor Cates leads the team in home runs (8), runs (17), hits (22), batting average (.407), OPS % (1.359), RBI (17), total bases (50) and slugging percentage (.926).
>> Sales leads the team in doubles (5) and has a 1.003 OPS % this season. She has tied her single-season career-high home run total (4) through only 18 games played.
>> Brinaya Bailey and Katie Greep each enter the doubleheader on four-game hit streaks. Bailey has hit a homer in each of the last two games.
>> Pitcher Melanie Bennett has accounted for more than half of KSU's innings pitched this season (58.1 of 113.1) and strikeouts (48 of 83). She has won her last two starts and leads the team with a 4.63 ERA.
>> Freshman Ty Hardeman had a career-high three hits against UMKC Sunday. She is tied with Isabella Galloway for most hits by a KSU freshman this season (8).
>> Faith Alexander has 12 hits and 10 runs scored in 10 games played this season. She is second on the team in batting average (.364).

An Unfamiliar Foe
The doubleheader marks the first meeting between the Owls and Bearkats, and the third game ever for the Owls against a Western Athletic Conference opponent.
KSU last defeated a WAC opponent on March 3, 2007 in a 4-3 win over Stephen F. Austin.

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
The Owls get a week off after the trip to Huntsville and return to Bailey Park on Wednesday, March 16 for a showdown against the Auburn Tigers. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. 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.
 

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