By: Michael Pitts
2023 Schedule
Kennesaw State (3-5, 0-0 ASUN) at Georgia Tech (4-5, 0-0 ACC)
Location: Mewborn Field – Atlanta, Ga.
Game Info: Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Watch Live | Live Stats | Game Notes
Leading Off
The Kennesaw State softball team is set to travel down I-75 to renew its rivalry with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Tuesday.
KSU looks to upset the in-state foe who finished last season with an RPI of 25 and made the NCAA Regionals.
Head coach Tripp MacKay leads the Owls to Atlanta coming off his 100th victory as head coach on Sunday against Troy. Melanie Bennett pitched 7.0 innings of shutout softball, allowing only three hits to seal the victory for KSU.
Bennett was named ASUN Pitcher of the Week Monday.
The Yellow Jackets won each of the two series meetings in 2022.
Tuesday's matchup is set for a 5:00 p.m. first pitch on ACC Network Extra.
A Familiar Foe
Georgia Tech and the Owls meet for the 34th time on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets hold a 23-10 series advantage, having won each of the last three.
Kennesaw State is seeking its first win over GT since Apr. 23, 2021 and its first win in Atlanta since Feb. 27, 2021.
Making History
Cates' return to the Owls for 2023 is headlined by her chase of multiple KSU career records. Entering this season, she is staring down the Owl benchmark slugging percentage of .679 (Cates' current mark: .638). Her career home run total is only 17 away from tying Cambria McKay's mark of 58. The Canton, Ga. native also needs only one sacrifice fly to set the new KSU career record of eight.
A New Staff
MacKay added two new assistants to his staff over the summer, Peejay Brun and Brea Dickey. Brun brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to Kennesaw State, having most recently been the head coach of UT Arlington. Dickey makes her return to KSU as one of the most decorated softball players in program history as a career .364 hitter with 135 hits and a .953 OPS. They join MacKay and volunteer assistant/pitching coach Crystal Hampton.
Shining in the ASUN
Cates was the only member of the team to be named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team this season. A season ago, she finished tied for the conference lead in homers (19) and slugging percentage (.857), as well as second in average (.390) and seventh in RBI (48).
The Owls were picked to finish third in the conference behind 2022 champion Liberty and Central Arkansas. KSU travels to Lynchburg, Va. for a three-game set with the Flames March 31-Apr. 2.
On Deck
The Owls remain on the road this weekend for the Bama Bash tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala. KSU is set to face Indiana State, Southeastern Louisiana and host school No. 6 Alabama for five games in total starting Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26.
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.
