By: Ariana Page
Location: Kennesaw, Ga.
Game 1: Thursday, April 17 @ 6 p.m.
Game 2: Friday, April 18 @ 6 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, April 19 @ 12:30 p.m.
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Conference USA action continues at Bailey Park as the Kennesaw State Owls welcome the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs for the first meeting in program history. The three-game series opens Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m., with the Bulldogs entering the weekend in a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings.
Scouting the Bulldogs
There's no series history to lean on as Kennesaw State and LA Tech meet for the first time, but the Bulldogs (25-18, 11-7 CUSA) roll in as a battle-tested squad locked in a three-way tie for second in Conference USA. They're in the thick of an eight-game road swing and coming off a 1-2 series at FIU, but don't sleep on their résumé. LA Tech owns statement wins over then No. 4 Oklahoma State and No. 17 Auburn. They've swept UTEP and Middle Tennessee this season and brought both power and speed to the table, leading CUSA with 13 triples. Reagan Marchant ranks third in the conference with 12 home runs, while Allie Floyd anchors the pitching staff. The reigning CUSA Pitcher of the Week leads the conference in complete games (13), innings pitched (159), and strikeouts (153), making her one of the top arms in the league.
A Smashing Start
Kennesaw State is off to a swinging start in 2025, launching 20 home runs to surpass last season's total, highlighted by a three-homer outburst against West Georgia on March 12. 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 and Ana Gore with four home runs. Macie Howes follows closely behind sending three to yard. Ty Hardeman, Lexie Shaver, and Hannah Harvey each had two home runs, with three 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 18 RBIs, tallying 54 total bases, and 34 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 with 17 RBIs. Shaver has added 18 RBIs with 10 doubles while reaching 52 bases. Hannah Harvey leads with 40 hits while boasting a .286 batting average.
Stepping up to the Plate
Freshman Ana Gore has been a key offensive force for Kennesaw State, collecting 33 hits and leading in RBIs with 25, while adding power to the lineup with 12 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, 91.1 innings of work, and a staggering 91 strikeouts. Backing her up, Kenley Hilleary has racked up 78.0 innings, posting a 3.91 ERA with 48 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 4th with 12 doubles. Gore also sits in the top 20 in CUSA with 25 RBIs. In the circle, Emma Fridel has been racking up strikeouts, placing 4th in CUSA with 91. Defensively, Jojo Johnson is a standout, leading the conference with 95 assists. Ava Guzowski closely follows closely in 5th place in the conference with 89 assists. At first base, Lexie Shaver is leading the conference with 257 putouts. Behind the plate, Macie Howes's 10 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
The Owls are set to host their final midweek matchup of the season as they welcome Chattanooga to Bailey Park for the second meeting between the two teams. The first pitch is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m.
Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2025.
