By: Michael Pitts
Kennesaw State (12-26, 4-8 ASUN) at Jacksonville (18-21, 4-8 ASUN)
Location: The Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex – Jacksonville, Fla.
Game One: Friday, Apr. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Game Two: Saturday Apr. 15 at 3:00 p.m.
Game Three: Sunday, Apr. 16 at 1:00 p.m.
Leading Off
Kennesaw State softball looks to get back on track this weekend against the Jacksonville Dolphins in a three-game series beginning Friday, Apr. 14.
The Owls are on a 10-game winning streak against JU dating back to the 2018 season.
Freshman Stella Henry has dominated ASUN pitching this season with a .441 batting average, 15 hits and four stolen bases.
Catcher Stacey Deputy is 13th in the country and first in the conference with 11 runners caught stealing this season.
KSU seeks to end a seven-game losing skid entering this weekend.
A Familiar Foe
The Black and Gold have won each of the last 10 games against the Dolphins and boast a 30-13 all-time record in the series.
KSU is 7-8 on the road against JU and won the last two in Jacksonville. The Dolphins are searching for their first win since Apr. 28, 2018.
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The Iron Woman
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.
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.
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On Deck
The Owls head home for a three-game series against the Lipscomb Bisons starting with two games Saturday, Apr. 22. The doubleheader is headlined by the beloved tradition Lexi's Day.
All three games of the series will be broadcasted on ESPN+. Admission is free for all 2023 KSU softball home contests.
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.
