By: Ariana Page
Location: Kennesaw, Ga.
Game 1: Friday, May 2 @ 6 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, May 3 @ 3 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, May 4 @ 12:30 p.m.
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls will close out their 2025 campaign on their home turf with a three-game Conference USA series against the New Mexico State Aggies. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The action begins Friday, May 2 at 6 p.m. with a special Mental Health Awareness game, where fans are encouraged to wear green to show their support. The series continues Saturday and concludes Sunday with Senior Day, honoring four standout seniors for their dedication and impact on the program.
Scouting the Aggies
The stakes are high as the Aggies head to Georgia for a critical three-game showdown to close out the regular season. Locked in a tie for fifth place in the Conference USA standings at 12-12, NM State holds the tiebreaker over Sam Houston and is still in the hunt for a top four finish. The Aggies are heating up at just the right time, coming off a weekend that featured one of their most consistent offensives stretches of the season. After a nearly 10-game stretch with limited production, NM State has scored 12 runs in their last 13 innings, while holding opponents to just three. With postseason positioning on the line and momentum building, New Mexico State arrives in Kennesaw looking to finish strong in their first-ever matchup with the Owls.
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 23 RBIs, tallying 64 total bases, and 42 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 20 RBIs with 11 doubles while reaching 58 bases. Hannah Harvey leads with 47 hits while boasting a .292 batting average.
Stepping up to the Plate
Freshman Ana Gore has been a key offensive force for Kennesaw State, collecting 37 hits and leading in RBIs with 28, while adding power to the lineup with 14 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 seven complete games, 107 innings of work, and a staggering 111 strikeouts. Backing her up, Kenley Hilleary has racked up 80.0 innings, posting a 3.59 ERA with 49 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. She went the distance once again, tossing 7.0 innings and setting a new season high with 10 strikeouts. Most recently, Friedel was in complete control against UTEP, firing another complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed in a 134-pitch masterpiece.
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 14 doubles. Gore also sits in the top 25 in CUSA with 28 RBIs. In the circle, Emma Fridel has been racking up strikeouts, placing 4th in CUSA with 111. Defensively, Jojo Johnson is a standout as 3rd in the conference with 107 assists. Ava Guzowski closely follows in 5th place in the conference with 103 assists. At first base, Lexie Shaver is 2nd in the conference with 299 putouts. Behind the plate, Macie Howes's 11 caught stealing places her 3rd 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.
Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2025.
