Tournament Central
 

KENNESAW STATE AT CHATTANOOGA CHALLENGE
Friday, February 17
1:30 p.m.	IUPUI	Live Stats
4 p.m.	Tennessee Tech	Live Stats
Saturday, February 18
11 a.m.	Radford	Live Stats
4 p.m.	Chattanooga	Live Stats
Sunday, February 19
9 a.m.	Radford	Live Stats

LEADING OFF
* The Owls continue their early-season tournament action this weekend when they travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. to compete in the five-team Chattanooga Challenge Presented by Ruby Falls. Kennesaw State opens play against IUPUI on Friday (Feb. 10) beginning at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
* The tournament, which runs through Sunday (Feb. 12), includes host Chattanooga, IUPUI, Tennessee Tech and Radford.
* Kennesaw State began its 2017 campaign by hosting the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament and posted a 3-2 record. The Owls opened with shutout victories over Saint Louis (4-0) and South Carolina State (14-0) before falling to Austin Peay and Morehead State on Saturday. KSU finished the weekend with a 9-0 win over Morehead State on Sunday.
* The Chattanooga Challenge Presented by Ruby Falls marks one of five tournaments Kennesaw State will compete in during the season.
* The Owls' 4-0 win over Saint Louis on Friday marked the 27th consecutive year that KSU has opened its season with a victory. The streak dates back to 1991, and includes Kennesaw State's transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. 

CHATTANOOGA CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT FIELD
IUPUI: The Jaguars enter the weekend 0-5 after competing in the Total Control Sports Invitational in Illinois. The field included University Illinois-Chicago, Loyola, Ill. Miami (Ohio), Eastern Illinois and Green Bay. IUPUI finished 20-35 in 2016.
 
Tennessee Tech: The Golden Eagles begin play on Friday with an 0-5 mark after participating in the Eagle Round Robin hosted by Georgia Southern. The field included UNCG, No. 15 Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and Georgia Southern. Tennessee Tech concluded the 2015 season with a 23-33 record.
 
Radford: The Highlanders open their 2017 season this weekend. Radford finished 35-26 in 2016, including 13-11 in the Big South Conference. Sophomore shortstop Marissa Gagliano returns as the Highlanders top hitter after batting .317 a year ago.  
 
Chattanooga: The Mocs are currently 2-3 on the season after competing in the NTC Tournament in Clermont, Fla. After dropping its first three games, Chattanooga posted victories over Morgan State (8-0) and Farleigh Dickinson (6-4). The Mocs concluded 2016 with a 30-29 record, including a 14-10 mark in Southern Conference play.
 
KENNESAW STATE VERSUS THE FIELD
IUPUI: Friday's game between the Owls and Jaguars will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs, with Kennesaw State holding a 2-1 series lead. The teams last met in 2015 and IUPUI recorded a 4-0 victory in Kennesaw. The Owls' last win was a 1-0 victory in 2013.
 
Tennessee Tech: The Owls and Golden Eagles will meet for the 20th time on Friday, and Kennesaw State leads the all-time series, 10-9. The two teams met twice in Cookeville, Tenn., last season and Kennesaw State won both games by 6-0 scores.
 
Radford: This weekend's games will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
 
Chattanooga: Saturday's contest between the Owls and Mocs will mark their first meeting.
 
HEAD COACH PETE D'AMOUR
* Head coach Pete D'Amour begins his first season as Kennesaw State head coach after spending the previous 10 seasons at the University of Missouri.
* While at Mizzou, D'Amour helped the Tigers post a 453-154 (.746) record, advance to three Women's College World Series (2009, 2010, 2011), reach eight NCAA Division I Super Regionals, and participate in 10 NCAA Regionals.
* During D'Amour's tenure, Missouri won two Big 12 Conference championships and earned 10 straight Top 20 national rankings.
* Primarily responsible for working with the pitchers and catchers, D'Amour watched Tigers pitcher throw 11 no-hitters, while mentoring 11 All-Americans, two SEC Freshen of the Year, three conference Pitchers of the Year, a national earned-run average leader, and a Defensive Player of the Year. 

NOTES
* Pete D'Amour was victorious in his head coaching debut as the Owls defeated Saint Louis, 4-0, in their season opener on Friday (Feb. 10)
* Kennesaw State registered shutouts in three of its first five games. Senior Logan Viers tossed a complete-game shutout against Saint Louis, while freshmen Alley Cutting and Danielle Rubin combined on a shutout versus South Carolina State, and Abigail Green and Jenna Kniss accomplished the feat versus Morehead State.
* Senior Logan Viers made an impressive season debut versus Saint Louis as she struck out a career-high 10 batters, allowed one hit and walked three in seven innings.
* Redshirt-freshman Alley Cutting began her Owls' career with a solid outing against South Carolina State as she worked three innings, allowed one hit and struck out seven.
* Junior Noelle Winkles opened her 2017 season in impressive fashion. In five games of the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament, Winkles batted .538 (7-for-13) with five runs scored, four doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Five of her seven hits were for extra bases as she slugged at a 1.077 clip and posted a .538 on-base percentage. She hit safely in all five games and scored at least one run in four of five contests.
* After one weekend of play, Winkles is tied for first in the country in doubles, and tied for sixth in doubles per game with 0.80, while her slugging percentage leads the ASUN Conference.
* Junior Hannah Thomason was an ignitor in the leadoff spot for the Owls as she went 6-for-12 (.500), scored three runs and was 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts. She also reached base safely in all five games.
* Senior Chandler Griffin enjoyed a productive weekend, batting .385 (5-for-16) with a team-leading six runs scored and a home run, while hitting safely in all five games.
* Freshman Olivia Tamewitz made an impressive collegiate debut, batting .545 (6-for-11) with two runs scored and three stolen bases, while posting two multiple-hit games.
* Senior Taylor Denton was a big run-producer for Kennesaw State as she batted .357 (5-for-14) with a team-high five RBIs.
* With a home run against South Carolina State, senior Courtney Sutter clubbed her 22nd career round tripper to move into a tie with Colleen Thornburn (1992-95) for ninth place all time. 

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
   
 

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