Kennesaw State (9-18, 2-1 Atlantic Sun)
Location: Bailey Park - Kennesaw, Ga.
Wednesday, March 20 @ 6 p.m. ET – Vs. Tennessee Tech
Follow the Action: @KSUOwlsSB on Twitter
Stella's Heater
Leadoff hitter
Stella Henry has been on a tear in the last five game. In those matches, she has batted .471 with eight hits, 12 total bases and a .526 on-base percentage. To go along wit the contact, she has been showing off the power as well recording two triples along with a .706 slugging percentage. She leads the Atlantic sun in triples (3) and triples per game (.11)
Power and More Power
The Owls have captured the strongest power streak of their season so far slugging .500 as a team in the previous five games with a 3-2 record. Five Owls have recorded slugging percentages of .588 or better (Henry, Amerson-Fox, Guzowski, Evans & Cooper). They have hammered 16 extra base hits in that span with nine doubles, two triples and five home runs.
The Freshman Phenom
Shortstop
Ava Guzowski has been terrific in her freshman season. She is coming off perhaps the best single performance this season versus Stetson in game two. Guzowski blasted two home runs, four runs scored and three hits and RBIs. The last time a Owls scored four runs in a game was Missy Perkowski vs. Alabama A&M Feb. 27, 2016. She became the first Owl to knock through two home runs in the same game since
Taylor Cates in 2022. Her batting average is currently second on the team and tied for the lead in home runs (2) and RBIs (11).
The Big Three
The pitching trio of
Lindsey Kyte,
Kenley Hilleary and
Melanie Bennett has been as advertised thus far. Each one has recorded 48 innings or more with a combined 3.42 ERA. The team's staff ERA stands at 3.62 overall. The Owls lead the ASUN in strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 2.30 tally. The most recent standout performances came from Hilleary and
Emma Friedel in the Stetson series. Hilleary went nine innings while only allowing one run with six strikeouts in game one. It was the longest appearance from an Owl pitcher this season. Friedel didn't surrender an earned run in 5.1 innings in the 2-1 win over the Hatters. It marked a career high for Friedel going past five innings of work.
Series History
The last time these two teams faced, Kennesaw State showcased their best offensive performance of the season in 2023. The Owls stacked up 16 runs in the home opener, the most since 2001 (19). The 16-run total for the Owls was the second-most in KSU Division I program history (17 vs. Northern Kentucky – 2014). The Black and Gold led the series 12-10 in a history that dates back to 1999. KSU maintains a 5-3 record at home versus the Golden Eagles.
On Deck
The Owls will travel to Richomnd, Ky. to face the 20-4 Eastern Kentucky Colonels for a three game conference series.
Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2024.
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.
