By: Ariana Page
Location: Jacksonville, Ala.
Game 1: Friday, April 11 @ 7 p.m. ET
Game 2: Saturday, April 12 @ 3 p.m. ET
Game 3: Sunday, April 13 @ 2 p.m. ET
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls gear up for another Conference USA battle this weekend as they head to Jacksonville, Ala. to face the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. The series opener is set for Friday, April 11, with the first pitch at 7 p.m. ET from Jana McGinnis Field.
Series History
The rivalry between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State University has been a battle over the years, with Jacksonville State holding a slim edge in the series at 13-11. The first meeting took place on February 27, 1991, when KSU struck first with a 5-2 victory. Since then, Kennesaw State has won six of their last ten matchups. In their most recent clash on May 12, 2022, Kennesaw State unleashed an offensive outburst, storming to a 14-4 win in Jacksonville, Alabama, powered by an explosive eight-run sixth inning that buried the Gamecocks. The Owls have protected their home turf with a solid 7-5 record. KSU's longest winning streak in the series stretched to four games from 2020 to 2022, and they now carry that momentum forward on a current one-game streak, looking to tip the scales in this tightly contested rivalry.
A Smashing Start
Kennesaw State has come out swinging to start the 2025 season, blasting 17 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 two 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, Hannah Harvey and Macie Howes each had two home runs, with two other Owls contributing one each. The Owls have showcased their speed, notching two inside-the-park homeruns this season. Guzowski has been a key to the offensive, hitting the first inside-the-park home run of the 2025 season, driving in 16 RBIs, tallying 53 total bases, and 33 hits. Macie Howes followed during the weekend series versus Middle Tennessee, racing around the bases to score an inside-the-park home run after capitalizing on a throwing error. Hardeman has been just as impactful, batting .228 with 17 RBIs. Shaver has added 16 RBIs with nine doubles while reaching 46 bases. Hannah Harvey leads with 34 hits while boasting a .272 batting average.
Stepping up to the Plate
Freshman Ana Gore has been a key offensive force for Kennesaw State, collecting 27 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
Kennesaw State's pitching staff has been bringing the heat all season long. Leading the charge is Emma Friedel, a force in the circle with five complete games, 82.1 innings of work, and a staggering 80 strikeouts. Backing her up, Kenley Hilleary racking up 72.0 innings, posting a 3.31 ERA with 46 strikeouts. Hilleary's dominance was on full display against FIU, where she fired 5.1 innings, punched out six batters, and shut the door with zero earned runs allowed. Leah Jannakos also delivered a standout performance against in-state ACC opponent Georgia Tech, holding them scoreless through four innings.
The Friedel Fire
Emma Friedel has been electric in the circle. She set the tone early against No. 10 Texas Tech, going the distance in her first complete game, allowing just three runs and striking out five against a powerhouse lineup. From there, Friedel turned up the heat. Against Georgia State, she fired a complete-game shutout, scattering only three hits, fanning six batters, and sealing a gritty 1-0 victory. She kept rolling at Chattanooga on March 18, throwing an extra-innings complete game. Friedel was lights-out, giving up just two hits, walking none, and striking out nine while facing 24 batters in a commanding performance. She kept the momentum going into Conference USA play, delivering a one-hit shutout to secure the Owls' first conference win of the season against Western Kentucky. Over two starts against the Hilltoppers, Friedel piled up 13.0 innings, allowed only seven hits, struck out 11, limited hitters to a .167 average, and hit a major milestone by recording her 100th career strikeout. Continuing her dominance in a midweek clash with Mercer, Friedel faced 23 batters, racked up six strikeouts, and allowed just two hits in another stellar outing.
CUSA Control
Kennesaw State is making its presence known within Conference USA, the eighth-best conference in D1, with several players and the team as a whole placing on the leaderboard. Ana Gore has been a force at the plate, sitting in 6th with 11 doubles. In the circle, Emma Fridel has been racking up strikeouts, placing 5th in CUSA with 80. Defensively, Ava Guzowski closely follows in 2nd place in the conference with 85 assists, while Jojo Johnson sits in 3rd with 84. At first base, Lexie Shaver leads the conference with 238 putouts. Behind the plate, Macie Howes's nine caught stealing places her 2nd 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
Bailey Park is back in action as the Owls host the Goergia State Panther on Tuesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. This will mark the third meeting this season between the two teams.
Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2025.
