By: Ariana Page
Kennesaw State (8-14, 0-0 Conference USA)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga.
Game 1: Friday, March 7 @ 6 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, March 8 @ 3 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, March 9 @ 12:30 p.m.
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Series Game Notes: Click here
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State is on the road to Lynchburg, Va. to face the No. 22 Liberty Flames starting Friday, March 7 at 6 p.m. This series will mark the opening of Conference USA play and kicks off the Owls' first season in the conference.
Series History
Liberty and Kennesaw State have faced each other multiple times, with Liberty holding a dominant 18-6 record in the series. Their first matchup took place on February 24, 2007, where Liberty lost 2-6. However, Liberty has won each of the last 12 meetings, including a significant victory in the 2021 ASUN final. In that final, Liberty secured the ASUN Championship title with a 5-4 win over Kennesaw State, earning an automatic qualifying berth to the 2021 NCAA Division I Softball Championship1. Both teams made NCAA Regional appearances that season, with Liberty advancing to the Knoxville Regional final and Kennesaw State earning an at-large berth. The most recent matchup on April 2, 2023, saw Liberty secure a 3-1 win.
A Smashing Start
Kennesaw State has come out swinging to start the 2025 season, blasting 12 home runs through just 22 games, including three that landed this past weekend during the I-75 Challenge. The Owls are only six away from surpassing last season's total. Leading the power surge is Ava Guzowski with four home runs, while Ana Gore, Ty Hardeman, and Lexie Shaver each have two home runs. Ava Brooke Strickland and Macie Howes have both chipped in one. Guzowski has been a key to the offensive, hitting the first inside-the-park home run of the 2025 season, driving in 12 RBIs and tallying 36 total bases. Hardeman has been just as impactful, batting .235 while leading the Owls with 14 RBIs. Shaver has added 10 RBIs with five doubles while reaching base 31 times.
Stepping up to the Plate
Freshman Ana Gore has been a key offensive force for Kennesaw State, collecting 19 hits and 13 RBIs while adding power to the lineup with seven doubles. She showcased her consistency with back-to-back home runs against Georgia State on February 18. Transfer Ava Brooke Strickland leads the team with a .320 batting average, recording 16 hits and seven RBIs, and becoming the first Owl to notch a triple this season. Freshmen 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 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 44.1 innings, posting a 3.16 ERA with 27 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 37.1 innings pitched with 35 strikeouts on the season. Leah Jannakos has also chipped in valuable innings, allowing just 18 earned runs across 29.1 frames. She 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, sitting in third in the conference with seven doubles and ranking among the top ten with 32 total bases. Ty Hardeman's 14 RBIs keep her tied for ninth. In the circle, Emma Fridel has been racking up strikeouts, placing seventh in CUSA with 35. Defensively, Jojo Johnson is a standout, leading the conference and ranking ninth nationally with 53 assists. Ava closely follows in second place in the conference with 46 assists and in the top ten with four homeruns. At first base, Lexie Shaver's 134 putouts placed her first in the conference. As a team, the Owls are fourth in CUSA with 32 doubles. Behind the plate, Macie Howes's 6 caught stealing places her within the NCAA's top 25 and leads the conference.
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 Black and Gold return home for a mid-week vs. West Georgia on Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. The Owls will stay in the Nest for the weekend to host FIU on March 14-16.
All games will be broadcasted on ESPN+. Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2025.
