Kennesaw State (14-33, 6-12 Atlantic Sun)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. - Bailey Park
Saturday, April 27 @ 2 p.m. ET – Vs. Central Arkansas
Saturday, April 27 @ 4:30 p.m. ET – Vs. Central Arkansas
Sunday, April 28 @ 1 p.m. ET – Vs. Central Arkansas
Follow the Action: @KSUOwlsSB on Twitter
Kennesaw State (14-33) will defend Bailey Park for one more weekend as they host Central Arkansas (20-24), signifying the first time UCA has competed at Bailey Park.
Initiating Takeover Mode
Freshman
Ava Guzowski shined in the spotlight versus Georgia Tech as she recorded the most single game RBI by an Owl this year with four. It's also her career high as she hammered a solo home run and sent through a bases clearing double, scoring three runs and giving the Owls the lead versus the ACC foe. She leads the team in RBI with 24 as she sits as the only player that has surpassed 20 on the season.
Taking Them to the Brink
When it comes to power five competition, Kennesaw State has often brought its A game. The Black and Gold secured two leads over Georgia Tech in Wednesday's game while also scoring the most runs (7) the Owls have versus the Yellowjackets since 2014. The lead signified the second time this year they have had a lead over a team that had a top 25 ranking in the season. The Owls also took an early lead over #22 South Carolina. Overall, KSU has had three leads over power five programs (GT, SC & Pitt).
Kyte Continues to Carve
Fifth year senior
Lindsey Kyte bolstered the Lions offense down when it was needed most to help secure the 5-0 win for the Owls in game three. She tossed her first complete game shutout of the season marking the third time she has reached seven innings in a start. She carved out six strikeouts which also tied her season high. She allowed just three hits to the fourth ranked offense in the ASUN in North Alabama.
Only Getting Better
Sophomore
Stella Henry continues to blaze the bath paths this year as she recorded three stolen bags in the UNA series. That puts her total at 23 on the year which stands at second in the ASUN, just four away from first place. She totaled just 16 stolen bases last year but her improvements don't stop there. She has already beat last year's run total, triples, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. She is just one hit away from last year's total along with being tied for nine RBI from year one to year two.
Bennett's Staying Power
Pitcher
Melanie Bennett continues to be relentless in the circle for the Owls as she has anchored down the Owls in her previous two starts. She has relinquished just two runs over 13 innings for a 1.60 ERA while tallying six strikeouts in that span. In her start versus North Alabama, she surpassed her 3,000th batter faced, now standing at 3,019. She is the program leader in inning pitched (694.0), games started (96), complete games (64) and games played by a pitcher (149).
Server...Check Please
The pitching staff continues to be a strength of the Owls and it was no more apparent than versus Bellarmine. Over 21 innings, the staff collected 19 strikeouts while only allowing two earned runs.
Kenley Hilleary,
Melanie Bennett and
Lindsey Kyte all tossed complete games, the first time they've accrued three consecutive CG's this season. The series ERA registered at .86.
Found Spaces in the Armor
In the Bellarmine series, Kennesaw State grew leaps and bounds in the ASUN standings, jumping four spots. The Owls have now earned their first series sweep of the year along with their second three-game winning streak of the year. They are just one of three teams currently riding a winning streak. The combined conference record of the Owls future ASUN opponents stands at 28-17.
Freshman in the Fold
Freshman
Hannah Harvey made her collegiate debut in game one in the Bellarmine series and has impressed since. It was not only her first appearance in an Owl uniform but her first start as she served as the DP for the first three games she played in. In the Georgia State game, she recorded her first start in the field as she started at shortstop. She has doubled three times in just eight games.
Series History
The history has been brief between the Owls and the Bears with just seven total games played. UCA is currently riding a four game winning streak. The Owls began the all-time series with three straight wins starting in 1998 and spanning to 2011. The last time these teams battled was in 2022 in Jacksonville, Fla. when the Bears ended the Owls season in the ASUN Championship. The Bears have never played in Kennesaw, Ga.
Milestone Watch:
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Ty Hardeman: 142 games played
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Stella Henry: 97 games played, 95 games started & 89 hits
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Kiera Cooper: 99 hits & 29 doubles
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Melanie Bennett: 694.2 innings pitched, 587 strikeouts
Finding the Gaps
Kiera Cooper has always had a special ability to lace the ball into the outfield gaps, but this year has been magnified. The lone senior has 11 doubles on the year, that tally is tied for second in the ASUN. Not only is it toward the top of the conference but it already signifies the most doubles in her career for a single season.
The Speed Continues
Speed and athleticism have been one of the strengths for the Owls so far, and that trend has continued. Kennesaw State currently stands 59th (out of 296) in the nation in total stolen bases with 58. That number is good for fourth in the Atlantic Sun. They are also top 100 in stolen bases per game with 2.09.
On The Move
On October 14, 2022, Kennesaw State University announced it will be joining Conference USA in all sports, effective July 1, 2024. KSU has been in the ASUN Conference (and previously the Big South for football) since its move to Division I in 2006.
On Deck
The final conference series will take place in Fort Myers, Fla. as the Owls travel South to take on FGCU May 3.
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.
