Kennesaw State (3-0, 0-0 CUSA) at No. 12 Florida (4-1, 0-0 SEC)
Location: Gainesville, Fla. | Condron Family Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field
Friday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. vs. Florida (SEC Network+)
Saturday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 pm. vs. Florida (SEC Network+)
Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. vs. Florida (SEC Network+)
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Kennesaw, Ga. - After an unbeaten start to the season, Kennesaw State baseball hits the road for the first time in 2026, traveling to Gainesville, Fla., for a three-game series against No. 12 Florida.
The Gators enter the weekend on the following a midweek sweep of Stetson (12-2, 9-3) and hold a 4-1 record on the young season. Florida made its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025, falling in the Conway Regional.
Florida is the first of four Power Four opponents on KSU's schedule this season and the first of six Owl opponents that competed in an NCAA Regional in 2025.
The Pitching Matchups...
Friday: RHP Cooper McMullen (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Liam Peterson (0-0, 10.80)
Saturday: RHP Ty Bayer (0-0, 22.50) vs. RHP Aidan King (1-0, 0.00)
Sunday: RHP Cole Royer (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Cooper Walls (1-0, 1.69)
A Look Back...
Kennesaw State opened the 2026 season with an unbeaten homestand, defeating Evansville, Marshall and West Georgia. The Owls scored 30 runs on 33 hits over the first three games while allowing just 13 earned runs on 19 hits.
Freshman Grayson McCollum shined in his first collegiate action, going 7-for-12 (.583) with six runs scored, four RBIs and two walks. Outfielder Cooper Williams also impressed at the plate, going 6-for-13 (.462) with three doubles and a home run. He added two walks and posted a team-best 1.456 OPS.
Pitching was a strength throughout the opening stretch, as KSU compiled a 4.33 ERA over 21 innings, striking out 22 and holding opponents to a .196 batting average.
The Owls struck out just once during their 9-4 win over West Georgia, marking the fewest punch outs in a game since April 7, 2023, against Austin Peay.
History Against the SEC...
Friday marks the 58th meeting between Kennesaw State and an SEC opponent. The Owls are 19-38 all-time against SEC programs and 2-11 under head coach Ryan Coe.
KSU is seeking its first win over an SEC foe since March 9, 2024, when the Owls defeated eventual SEC regular-season co-champion Kentucky, 10-2, to clinch a series victory.
Florida becomes the 10th different current SEC program to face the Owls. The Owls have recorded at least one win against six of the nine previously faced.
Chirello's Big Night...
Jackson Chirello delivered a career performance in Kennesaw State's 9-4 midweek win over West Georgia, going 3-for-4 with a career-high three doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Chirello became the first Owl to hit three doubles in a game since Will Howard accomplished the feat against Jacksonville State on March 2, 2012.
The veteran outfielder also robbed two home runs in the win, securing one for a fly out at the wall and pulling another back over the fence to hold the batter to a double.
The Owls Fund
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Join The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
