Projected to finish second overall in both the Preseason Softball Coaches Poll and the Preseason Softball Facebook Fan Poll, the KSU softball team made a strong statement to the Atlantic Sun Conference over the weekend, opening their season with 5 victories in the Georgia Tech- Kennesaw State Invitational at Bailey Park.
The Owls opened their first game against Missouri State on Friday with strong hitting, scoring in the first 3 innings of the contest. The highlight of the game was Angie Discoli, hitting a first-inning grand slam in her first career at-bat for the Owls.
The Owls went up 10-1 to finish the third inning, but a late rally in the fourth and fifth made it 10-8. The Owls notched 2 more insurance runs, winning their first game of the season 12-8. Shortly after on the same day, they defeated Coastal Carolina 1-0 in an eight-inning contest.
The Owls came out strong on the second day of competition, blasting Eastern Michigan by a score of 7-0 on Saturday. The dominance continued, as the team turned their sights on Butler, downing them 6-2. The team finished the Invitational on Sunday after defeating Easter Michigan in a rematch, 6-5.
The team returns a number of players from last season that competed in the conference tournament. The team finished second in the tournament, and hope that experience, as well as the addition of new players, will allow them to maintain a strong level of play as the season continues.
“We think the talent level is going to be good enough for us to contend,” said KSU head coach Scott Whitlock. “The secret to it is staying healthy, playing well on defense, and get that hit in the right time of the game when you got runners on base.”
Whitlock will look for veteran leadership from his upperclassman, combined with the young talent of the underclassman, to establish a foothold in the A-Sun Conference, and continue to build off their 5-0 start.
The team certainly has the talent to do what Whitlock thinks it can. Two Owls, senior Sharon Swanson and sophomore Kaylee Williams, were named to the A-Sun Preseason All-Conference Team, while junior Amanda Henderson was selected as the
Fan Voted Pitcher of the Year. “I am very happy for the honor that Sharon and Kaylee both have been bestowed,” Whitlock said. “Amanda is just an outstanding pitcher. She is a fantastic competitor, has a great personality and has great presence on the mound. Any time she is honored, I am not surprised.”
Florida Gulf Coast University was picked to finish first. The Owls have experience facing their Florida rivals and will play them again this season. KSU will have to play well against the combined effort of Chelsea Zgrabik, who was named the Preseason Player of the Year, and teammate Shelby Morgan, who was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
“They are an extraordinarily good program,”Whitlock said. “They are going to be tough for anyone to beat.”
The Owls will return to action when they host The KSU Classic next weekend in Woodstock, Ga.
