ASUN AWARDS (PDF) | SCHEDULE | ROSTER | TICKETS

KENNESAW, Ga. – Defending ASUN baseball regular-season champion Kennesaw State enters 2017 with increased expectations as the Owls were picked to finish third in the ASUN annual preseason coaches' polls, while Gabe Friese, Austin Upshaw and Corey Greeson were named to the ASUN's Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Owls, who finished 17-4 in the regular season during ASUN play in 2016 – becoming the first team since 2010 (FGCU) to win every league series -- received 51 total votes and one first-place vote in the coaches' poll. Kennesaw State finished behind North Florida (62) and Lipscomb (59), which received six first-place votes.

FGCU and Jacksonville tied in the fourth-place slot, followed by Stetson, USC Upstate and NJIT.

Kennesaw State's Preseason All-Conference selections, also voted by the league's head coaches, scored three Owls on the team as Friese, Upshaw and Greeson were all named to the preseason team for the first time in their careers.

Friese, a hometown native of Kennesaw, is coming off a strong 2016 campaign. The righty was one of three starters to make 13 starts on the bump and led the Owls with an impressive 6-2 record. Friese was even better in ASUN action, going a perfect 4-0 record and posting a 4.35 ERA in six starts.

Upshaw, who was one of only three unanimous selections to the All-Conference Team, is coming off a season in which the rising junior hit .344 and led the Owls with 72 hits. The first baseman led the team with 13 doubles and seven home runs and also batted an impressive .395 during ASUN play. The Buford, Ga., native led the team with 10 multiple-RBI games and enters 2017 on a five-game hitting streak.

Greeson, one of eight seniors in 2017 and a Calhoun, Ga., native, enjoyed his best season with the Black and Gold in 2016, batting .356, totaling 10 doubles and 36 RBI while posting 20 multi-hit games. The outfielder went on a career-best nine-game hitting streak from April 9-26, totaling eight multi-hit games and batted an incredibl.388 (33-85) in ASUN action last spring. 

The Owls, led by 26th-year head coach Mike Sansing -- the reigning ASUN Coach of the Year, will play 33 home games including match-ups with Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Georgia. In addition, KSU's home ASUN slate commences April 7-9 with USC Upstate. The Owls also host Jacksonville and FGCU at Stillwell Stadium as part of their ASUN schedule.

Kennesaw State begins its 2017 slate on Feb. 17-19 hosting Western Michigan, BYU and Marshall as part of the Atlanta Challenge at Stillwell Stadium.

To purchase season tickets, single-game or mini plans for the 2017 baseball season, CLICK HERE!

Kennesaw State Schedule Notes
• 56 games
• 33 home games at Stillwell Stadium
• 23 road games
• 16 midweek games (8 home/8 away)
• Season opener: Feb. 17 vs. Western Michigan
• Atlantic Sun Conference opener: March 31 at North Florida
• Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament: May 24-28 at Stetson (Deland, Fla.)

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news follow the team on
Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.  
 
-#GoKSUOwls-
 
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video