KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State is taking a foundational step as the baseball program will compete in its first games as a member of Conference USA with a Friday opening-day doubleheader versus Rutgers.
The Owls are seeking their third Big Ten win in program history and their first since 2023 (Michigan, March 10, 2023). Rutgers holds a 1-0 advantage over KSU as they took the only matchup 5-4 on March 15, 2023 in Stillwell Stadium.
Friday, Feb. 14 - Game 1
Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0, 0-0 BIG10)
Time: 2:00 p.m.
KSU Probable Starter: RHP
Braden Osbolt (0-0)
Rutgers Probable Starter: RHP Justin Shadek (0-0)
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Friday, Feb. 14 - Game 2
Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0, 0-0 BIG10)
Time: 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game One
KSU Probable Starter: LHP
Ryan Gold (0-0)
Rutgers Probable Starter: RHP Landon Mack (0-0)
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Sunday, Feb. 16 - Game 3
Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0, 0-0 BIG10)
Time: 1:00 p.m.
KSU Probable Starter: RHP
Nolan Sliver (0-0)
Rutgers Probable Starter: LHP Preston Prince (0-0)
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Note: All 2025 game dates and times are subject to change and will take place at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field in Marietta, Ga.
Back In The Fold
Returning to KSU are three studs in the field with
Chris Cole,
Jackson Chirello and
Shamaar McDuffie. Cole paced the Owls last season with a .345 average, knocking on the door of top 10 all-time in program history in a single season. Outfielder
Jackson Chirello ended the '24 campaign with a .290 average and 49 hits, along with an Atlantic Sun All-Tournament team bid. ASUN All-Freshman member
Shamaar McDuffie is back to anchor down shortstop in his sophomore season. The sure-handed infielder turned 25 doubles plays while leading the team with 140 assists.
Substituting The Sluggers
The Owls will seek to replace the production of five graduating seniors in
Brayden Eidson,
Nick Hassan, Issac Bouton,
Zac Corbin and
Spencer Hanson. Those five stars produced 55% of total bases, 53% of the team's hits, 51% of runs scored and 30 of the 45 Owl home runs. Four of the five hitters registered averages above .300 and an OPS beyond .833 while all five players combined for a .316 batting average, .877 OPS and earned three postseason Atlantic Sun awards.
S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field
For the duration of the 2025 season, Kennesaw State will be returning to Marietta, Ga. as they will play at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field for the first time in 10 years. With Mickey Dunn Stadium still under construction, the Owls will return to their roots as the field served as the home to Southern Polytechnic baseball from 1975-2014. Recent upgrades have been made to the historic field including improved lights, dugouts and much more. S. Walter Kelly (1896-1973), a WWI Navy veteran, was a vital part of brokering the land deal that allowed STI to move to Marietta from its initial location, a repurposed Army base in Chamblee, DeKalb County.
Slated for '25
Kennesaw State's first season in CUSA comes with a slew of impressive opponents. The Owls will face five 2024 NCAA Regional squads in Georgia, Gerogia Tech, West Virginia along with CUSA foes Dallas Baptist and La. Tech. KSU will face 12 teams who registered an above .500 record last season, featuring eight of the first 10 opponents. They will leave February playing only one below .500 team. Four futures foes registered a Top-50 RPI.
Fantastic Freshman Class
The Owls staff aren't the only ones who are excited about the current freshmen class,
Perfect Game recognized KSU with the 44th-best recruiting class in the country. They are ranked as the best class in CUSA, pacing FIU at 51st, while they are also just one of three conference teams in the top 100. The program ranks well in the state of Georgia, ranking well above in-state rivals Georgia Southern (76), Georgia State (71) and Mercer (57).
Perfect Game listed three Owls in its "Top 500 Fresh Arrivals on Campus," with
Ty Bayer (210),
Nolan McKinstry (423) and
Ethan Osada (471).
Hot Streak
Kennesaw State won seven of its last eight games after ending the regular season on a 2024-best four-game win streak. KSU outscored its opponents 50-33 in that span.
Last Years Stars
In the Owls last season in the Atlantic Sun, they impressed as they landed seven Owls on the postseason slate, three of which have returned.
Bo Rhudy,
Braden Osbolt and
Shamaar McDuffie all earned garnered an award with Rudy winning relief pitcher of the year, Osbolt earning a third-team spot and McDuffie getting an All-Freshman nod.
No Donuts At Home
Inside the friendly confines of Stillwell Stadium, Kennesaw State baseball had not been shutout in an ASUN-best 176 home contests - the fourth-longest streak in the nation. KSU was last shutout at home on Feb. 27, 2018. The Owls have not placed a zero on the home scoreboard under head coach
Ryan Coe.
Respect The Name
During the fall,
D1Baseball declared the Owls as the 85th-best program in the country.
D1Baseball releases its "Top 100" every few years with the last rankings coming in 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015. It's the Owls highest ranking and the last ranking since 2005 when they were tabbed 86th.
Slaying Dragons
Last season, the Owls registered three top-25 wins (No. 25 Kentucky twice & No. 10 Clemson). The Owls routed No. 10 Clemson 18-1 in Game 1 to mark the Tigers' worst home loss since 1936, before KSU then took 2-of-3 from eventual SEC regular-season champion Kentucky.
Monster on the Mound
Returning to the mound in his newfound Friday night role is junior
Braden Osbolt. In 14 starts in '24, the right-hander posted a 5-2 record with a 4.48 ERA and 51 punchouts. He proved to be a vital part of the upset over No. 10 Clemson as he pitched six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. He impressed in conference play as he received an ASUN Pitcher of the Week award and an All-Atlantic Sun Third Team postseason spot.
New In The Nest
Supplementing the existing core of the team are 17 newcomers, including 12 freshmen and five transfers. Coe and the Owls brought in six freshmen arms ranging from Hiram, Ga. to Dana Point, Calif. Highlighting the freshmen position players is Wes Alig, a winner of the Mr. Baseball Award of Tennessee in 2024. Lee University transfer
Cam Suto is returning home after spending three seasons with the Flames after graduating from Sprayberry High School in Marietta. The infielder posted 40 home runs over his career in Cleveland, Tenn.
Drop-Off
There is quite a bit of familiarity with the Owls through the first month and a half of the season as they have at least one game played versus the first eight opponents. Through the rest of the season, KSU will face eight opponents for the first time in program history including six first-time CUSA matchups.
On Deck
It's an early season double midweek at home as the Owls will face No. 8 Georgia on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. and Mercer on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
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.
