By: Ariana Page
Kennesaw State (9-24, 0-9 Conference USA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Game 1: Friday, March 28 @ 5 p.m. ET
Game 2: Friday, March 28 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3: Saturday, March 29 @ 4 p.m. ET
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Series Game Notes: Click here
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State (9-24, 0-9 Conference USA) closes out the two-week road stretch with a final weekend in Murfreesboro, Tenn. to face off against Middle Tennessee (14-19, 3-6 Conference USA). This will be the Owls' first time traveling to Murfreesboro, Tenn. The CUSA series' first pitch is set on Friday, March 28 at 5 p.m. at Blue Raider Softball Field.
Due to expected rain, a doubleheader is scheduled for Friday, March 28. The series finale is set for Saturday, March 29 at 4 p.m.
Series History
Kennesaw State and Middle Tennessee have faced off three times between February 9, 2008, and February 7, 2014. The Owls lead the series with a perfect 3-0 record. The last matchup took place on February 7, 2014, where KSU emerged victorious with a 14-12 win in Troy, Alabama. This game was the closest in the series, showcasing a high-scoring battle. The first matchup occurred on February 9, 2008, with the Black and Gold securing a 7-1 win at home in Kennesaw, Ga. The largest margin of victory came on February 19, 2010, when Kennesaw State dominated with an 11-0 win in Woodstock, Georgia. Overall, the Owls have scored a total of 32 runs across three games, averaging 10.67 runs per game. KSU's home record stands at 1-0, with a neutral site record of 2-0.
A Smashing Start
Kennesaw State has come out swinging to start the 2025 season, blasting 16 home runs through just 33 games, including three that landed on March 12 when the Owls faced West Georgia. Notably, Jojo Johnson smashed a walk-off grand slam for the first time in Owl's history since the 2023 season, marking her first collegiate home run. The Owls are only three away from surpassing last season's total. Leading the power surge is Ava Guzowski with four home runs, while Ana Gore follows closely behind with three. Ty Hardeman, Lexie Shaver, and Macie Howes each had two home runs, with three other Owls contributing one each. Guzowski has been a key to the offensive, hitting the first inside-the-park home run of the 2025 season, driving in 14 RBIs and tallying 45 total bases. Hardeman has been just as impactful, batting .219 with 16 RBIs. Shaver has added 15 RBIs with five doubles while reaching base 38 times. Hannah Harvey leads the Owls with 28 hits while boasting a .280 batting average, making her the 5th toughest to strikeout in the conference.
Stepping up to the Plate
Freshman Ana Gore has been a key offensive force for Kennesaw State, collecting 26 hits and leading in RBIs with 19, while adding power to the lineup with 11 doubles. She showcased her consistency with back-to-back home runs against Georgia State on February 18. Jojo Johnson and Gore have been the only freshmen to start every game this season and are two of the five players to have started every game. Alora Bevily has also been perfect on the base paths, going 4-for-4 in stolen bases. With four new Owls in the lineup, their growing team development will only strengthen their power at the plate as the season progresses.
Inside the Circle
The pitching staff has been a key factor for Kennesaw State. Kenley Hilleary has logged a team-high 64.1 innings, posting a 3.26 ERA with 40 strikeouts. Emma Friedel delivered a complete-game shutout against Georgia State, allowing just three hits while striking out six and holding the Panthers scoreless in a 1-0 victory. Friedel now boasts a total of 58.2 innings pitched while leading with 59 strikeouts on the season, only seven away from doubling last season's total. Friedel took the mound with authority at Chattanooga when the Owls faced the Mocs on March 18. She pitched a complete game through extra innings, allowing only two hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. She maintained control throughout, facing 24 batters. Leah Jannakos also delivered a standout performance against in-state ACC opponent Georgia Tech, holding them scoreless through four innings.
CUSA Control
Kennesaw State is making its presence known within Conference USA, with several players and the team as a whole placing on the leaderboard. Ana Gore has been a force at the plate, leading the conference with 11 doubles, ranking 25th in the NCAA. Gore is also ranked 20th in CUSA with 19 RBIs. In the circle, Emma Fridel has been racking up strikeouts, placing 7th in CUSA with 59. Defensively, Jojo Johnson is a standout, leading the conference and ranking 14th nationally with 76 assists. Ava Guzowski closely follows closely in second place in the conference with 71 assists and sits in the NCAA top 25 with four homeruns. At first base, Lexie Shaver's 208 putouts place her 1st in the conference. As a team, the Owls are 5th in CUSA with 46 doubles. Behind the plate, Macie Howes's seven caught stealing places her 4th in CUSA.
Power Four Proof
Kennesaw State has proven they can compete with some of the nation's top programs, going toe-to-toe with multiple Power Four opponents this season. The Owls struck first against No. 20 Northwestern, holding the lead through two innings and keeping it a one-run game until the end. Against Kentucky, KSU battled to a tie through three innings, showcasing their resilience against the Wildcats. The Owls also put up strong fights against Iowa and Penn State, while their defense held No. 10 Texas Tech and Pitt to just a few runs in hard-fought contests. Most recently, the Owls' pitching staff held Georgia Tech to four scoreless innings, demonstrating their ability to contain ACC-powered offenses.
On Deck
The Owls return home after a two-week road stint to kick off a CUSA series against Western Kentucky, with the first pitch set for April 4 at 6 p.m.
Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2025.
