Kennesaw State (10-26, 2-7 Atlantic Sun)
Location: UNF Softball Complex - Jacksonville, Fla.
Saturday, April 6 @ 2 p.m. ET – Vs. North Florida
Saturday, April 6 @ 4:30 p.m. ET - Vs. North Florida
Sunday, April 7 @ 1 p.m. ET - Vs. North Florida
Follow the Action: @KSUOwlsSB on Twitter
The Kennesaw State Owls (10-26) head to Jacksonville, Fla. to face the North Florida Ospreys (23-12) for a marquee ASUN weekend series at the UNF Softball Complex starting Saturday.
What A Day
Catcher
Macie Howes showcased one of the best games of her early Owl career versus Georgia State. She hammered through three base hits, the most in a single game in her career. She was responsible for both runs scored via RBI or crossing the plate herself. The GSU game was just a tidbit of what she has been producing lately as she has tallied nine bases along with five hits in the previous five matchups.
Series History
For the third straight series, the Owls will face a team they have seen over 40 times. The Owls and the Ospreys have a rich history with 73 all-time matchups as KSU leads 49-24. They are in search of a spell breaker with UNF holding a five game winning streak over the Black and Gold.
The Shakeup
In the last four games, there have been several defensive switches along with the first major batting order change of the year happening versus Georgia State. In the midweek game, Evans moved back to third base and
Caroline Shumeyko went to second base. It was the first time this year Shumeyko played second base, she has seen time and first and third base prior to the switch. Another first was
Madison Miller jumping into the leadoff spot followed by
Reese Evans.
Stella Henry was slipped into the seven spot and produced right away with a hit, RBI and walk versus the Panthers. It was the first time this season Henry did not lead off in the order.
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 46th (out of 296) in the nation in total stolen bases with 51. That number is good for fourth in the Atlantic Sun. They are also 60th in the NCAA in stolen bases per game with 1.46.
Mel Carved
Melanie Bennett was something to behold versus Georgia State coming out of the bullpen. In just 3.2 inning of work, she punched out five batters with three being rung up looking. It was the second highest total she posted all year with the her best coming versus ETSU 2/18 in 5.1 innings of relief.
Bursting Onto the Scene
Fifth year
Laura Bishop went nuclear in her first start Friday versus Jacksonville. She collected three hits in her first start of the 2024 season. Bishop smoked a double into the left center gap with the bases loaded for 3 RBI for her first hit, RBI and extra base hit of the season. During the three game series, she tallied six hits, two doubles and eight total bases. Her slugging percentage was .727, nearly 100 points higher than the next closest teammate.
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 midweek action is back but on the road for the first time this season as they take on Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn. Wednesday night.
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.
