Kennesaw State (12-20, 4-2 ASUN) at Liberty (18-13, 4-2 ASUN)
Location: Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium – Lynchburg, Va.
Game One: Friday, Mar. 31 at 12:00 p.m.
Game Two: Saturday, Apr. 1 at 3:00 p.m.
Game Three: Sunday, Apr. 2 at 12:00 p.m.

Leading Off

A three-game series rematch of the 2021 ASUN tournament title game is set for the Kennesaw State softball team against the reigning ASUN Champion Liberty Flames.

Both squads enter the weekend with a 4-2 conference record that included a sweep of the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.

Senior Brinaya Bailey steps to the plate against LU hitting .462 in her last five games with one homer and nine total bases. She made her 100th career start for the Owls on Sunday vs. the Colonels.

The Kennesaw State softball program stands two wins away from 1,500 all-time victories since its inception in 1985. KSU has 1,498 wins in its history, 384 more than the next-closest Georgia DI program (Georgia Tech – 1,114).

Kennesaw State is 4-2 in its last six ASUN road games dating back to 2022. The Owls enter the weekend after their sweep of EKU inside Bailey Park last week and a tough loss to in-state foe Georgia Tech on Tuesday.

The series is set to begin Friday, Mar. 31 at 12:00 p.m. with every game on ESPN+.

 

The Iron Woman

Infielder Taylor Cates has been a staple in the Kennesaw State lineup during her career. On Sunday, Mar. 19 at Austin Peay, Cates surpassed Owl legend Jessica Cross with her 164th consecutive game played for the most in Kennesaw State DI history. In the Owls' next contest against No. 17/16 Georgia, the Canton, Ga. native surpassed Cross again - this time for most consecutive starts in KSU DI history, also with 164.

 

A Familiar Foe

The Flames lead the all-time series against the Black and Gold, 15-6. KSU is searching for its first win over LU since Apr. 2, 2021 in a 5-4 victory in Lynchburg.

Liberty won the season series 3-0 in 2022.

 

Circle of Gems

One of the main themes for KSU softball so far in 2023 are stellar performances by the Owl pitching staff.

Feb. 15 vs. Mercer – The Owls shutout Mercer behind 4.0 innings of two-hit ball from Lindsey Kyte. Melanie Bennett entered in relief and collected her 400th career strikeout.

Feb. 19 at Troy – Bennett struck again for the Owls against the Trojans with a three-hit complete game in the circle as the Owls won 1-0.

Feb. 24 vs. Indiana State – Freshman Kenley Hilleary made a name for herself in the Bama Bash, starting with a 10-inning complete game allowing only one earned run and five hits. She notched a then-career-high 11 strikeouts with 180 pitches thrown.

Feb. 26 at No. 7/6 Alabama – KSU's wire-to-wire upset of the Crimson Tide was led by Hilleary's four-hit complete game. She had four K's in the circle and the win marked her first collegiate victory. Hilleary won ASUN Pitcher of the Week honors.

Feb. 28 vs. Samford – Another 1-0 win for the Owls with Bennett in the circle featured a nine-inning complete game from the KSU ace. She allowed only four hits with a commanding 13 strikeouts in the shutout.

Mar. 7 at Georga Southern – Hilleary crushed it again for the Owls, pitching 5.0 innings allowing no runs with only four hits. She struck out half of the batters she faced, tallying 10 total on the evening – including two punchouts in each inning of work.

Mar. 10 vs. North Dakota – Laura Bishop led the charge in KSU's run-rule win over UND. She pitched a five-inning complete game with zero earned runs and only five hits allowed to Fighting Hawk batters to secure her first win of 2023.

Mar. 24 vs. Eastern Kentucky – Bennett earned her 50th career win with five innings of work and seven strikeouts in the Owls victory.

Mar. 25 vs. Eastern Kentucky – Hilleary dominated yet again with her fourth complete game allowing only one hit and one run in 28 batters faced as the Owls took a 2-1 win to earn the series victory over the Colonels. Five of her strikeouts came in the first four innings of the contest.

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.

  

On Deck

An Easter weekend series against North Alabama is up next for the Owls beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 7 inside Bailey Park.

Fans can catch the series on the KSU Owl Network and admission is free for all 2023 home KSU softball games.

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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