By: Michael Pitts
KENNESAW, Ga. – A five-game road trip for Kennesaw State baseball is in the books as the Owls journey back to Stillwell Stadium for a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series with Central Arkansas beginning Friday, April 12.
KSU is 6-4 at home this season and has won four of its last six games inside the friendly confines of The Shake. The Black and Gold are 41-28 at home under head coach
Ryan Coe.
Coe's squad comes off the road after victories at Mercer on April 2 (5-4) and at Stetson on April 6 (4-3). The Owls currently sit fourth in the conference standings.
This weekend marks the first-ever meetings between the two programs.
SERIES INFORMATION
Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls (17-14, 7-5 ASUN) vs. Central Arkansas (13-18, 4-8 ASUN)
Dates: April 12-14, 2024
Site: Stillwell Stadium - "The Shake"
KSU Game Notes |
UCA Game Notes
Purchase Tickets
2024 Schedule/Results
GAME ONE
Date: Friday, April 12
Time: 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats
GAME TWO
Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 4:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats
GAME THREE
Date: Sunday, April 14
Time: 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats
Note: All 2024 game dates and times are subject to change.
No Donuts at Home
Inside the friendly confines of Stillwell Stadium, Kennesaw State baseball has not been shutout in an ASUN-best 167 home contests. The next-closest conference team to that mark is Stetson, currently at 64. The last time KSU was shutout at home came on Feb. 27, 2018. The Owls have not placed a zero on the scoreboard at home under head coach
Ryan Coe.
KSU has not been shutout in 51-straight Atlantic Sun contests, tied with Stetson for the second-longest streak in the conference. Eastern Kentucky has not been shutout in 72 straight ASUN games and 189 conference games (EKU joined the ASUN in 2022).
Welcome to the Team
Coach Coe and KSU baseball welcomed Bobby Baird to the team in early April through the Team IMPACT organization. Bobby lives with a neuromuscular disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Click
here to learn more.
Not a Coe-incidence
On March 28 against Austin Peay, Coach Coe achieved his 75th win as the leader of KSU and his 40th inside The Shake. He surpassed Mike Sansing's record for fastest time to 75 Division I wins in KSU baseball history by five games.
Up for a Challenge
The Kennesaw State Owls are backing down from no challenges in the 2024 campaign. As of April 11, KSU has the 17th-toughest strength of schedule in the country and the fifth-toughest non-conference slate.
Power Five Slayers
Thus far in 2024, Kennesaw State baseball has produced some marquee victories. On Feb. 23 at No. 10 Clemson, KSU routed the Tigers, 18-1, - the worst home loss for the Tigers since 1936. It also marked the Owls' highest-ranked win since Mar. 3, 2021 and the highest-ranked road win in KSU's DI history (since 2006). On March 8 and 9, KSU traveled to No. 25 Kentucky and took two of three from the Wildcats by scores of 13-1 and 10-2. As of April 8, Clemson and Kentucky are a combined 55-7 in 2024 - but 3-3 against Kennesaw State.
Bouton's Rare Feat
On Opening Day at UAB,
Isaac Bouton pulled off one of baseball's rarest feats. The senior blasted two home runs in the same inning against the Blazers. The third baseman led off with a solo shot, then added a three-run dinger later in the frame.
Roster Breakdown
The Owls enter the 2024 season with a mixture of veterans and rookies. The team returns 25 players from last year's squad while adding 14 newcomers to The Nest. Out of the 14 new additions, 10 are true freshmen while four are transfers.
Stillwell Stadium Farewell Tour
In September 2023, the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia approved two major construction projects at Kennesaw State University, one of which included a new stadium for KSU baseball. Plans for the stadium reconstruction include premium and hospitality seating, and the stadium will match the program's aspirations with the ability to host NCAA Regional and Super Regional rounds.
15-Straight MLB Draft Picks
Kennesaw State right-handed pitcher
Blake Wehunt was selected 268th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft last July. The selection marked the 73rd draft pick in KSU baseball history and extended the streak to 15 consecutive years the Owls have had at least one player drafted (excluding the 2020 COVID-shortened draft).
Cape Cod Success
Kennesaw State baseball sent two players to the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League in
Smith Pinson and
Blake Aita. Pinson dominated all year and was named to the 2023 Cape Cod Baseball All-League Team after posting a 3-1 record with a 2.68 ERA. Aita followed suit with a strong summer and was named a CCBL Top 100 Prospect, per Perfect Game USA. The Canton, Ga. native came in at No. 41 on the list of top prospects.
Finished The Year Strong
Kennesaw State baseball had two players named to the 2023 ASUN All-Conference teams last season.
Jamarie Brooks was selected to the All-Freshman squad and
Spencer Hanson was tabbed a Third Team All-ASUN honoree. This marked the first postseason accolade for each player.
Atlantic Sun Farewell
This season marks the final year Kennesaw State baseball will compete within the Atlantic Sun Conference. On July 1, 2024, the team will move into Conference USA where they will join Dallas Baptist, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky.
On Deck
A pair of midweeks are next up for Kennesaw State baseball, beginning with a trip to Panthersville to battle the Georgia State Panthers on Tuesday, April 16.
The Owls return to The Shake the next day to host in-state foe Georgia Southern on April 17 at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets
here.
To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State baseball team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook and Instagram.
