By: Michael Pitts
Kennesaw State (3-6, 0-0 ASUN) at the Easton Bama Bash hosted by Alabama
Location: Rhoads Stadium – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Friday, Feb. 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET – vs. Indiana State
Friday, Feb. 24 at 5:00 p.m. ET – at No. 11/7 Alabama
Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5:00 p.m. ET – vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET – vs. Indiana State
Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET – at No. 11/7 Alabama
Leading Off
A trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala. and the Easton Bama Bash is up next for Kennesaw State softball this weekend.
KSU is set to face Indiana State (3-2), Southeastern Louisiana (9-0) and No. 11/7 Alabama (7-2) for five games starting Friday, Feb. 24 and ending Sunday, Feb. 26.
The Crimson Tide enter the weekend ranked inside the top 11 of every national softball poll while undefeated Southeastern Louisiana was ranked 10th in Extra Inning Softball's mid-major top 10 poll this week.
Owl ace Melanie Bennett enters the tournament after being named ASUN Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
Kennesaw State is coming off a hard-fought 5-3 midweek defeat at the hands of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-4) Tuesday in Atlanta.
Brinaya Bailey shined at the plate against the in-state foe, reaching base in all three plate appearances with a 2-for-2 stat line. She hit her first homer of the season in a two-run shot in the opening frame (ICYMI).
Familiar Foes
Indiana State: Kennesaw State leads the all-time series 2-0 over the Sycamores. The last meeting came in Feb. 2021 where the Owls took a 9-7 victory in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Southeastern Louisiana: Saturday's contest with the Lions marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Alabama: The Owls and Crimson Tide meet for only the second and third times this weekend – the first time the two will be in opposing dugouts since 2014. Alabama won the '14 game 6-0 in Troy, Ala.
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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: .633). 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 Black and Gold return home following the Bama Bash to face the Samford Bulldogs inside Bailey Park at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Admission is free for all KSU softball home games in 2023 and fans can catch the action on the KSU Owl Network.
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.
