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GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• Kennesaw State (39-18) is making its first postseason appearance since transitioning to the NCAA Division I level in 2006 as it competes in the National Invitational Softball Championship.
KSU will open play against Weber State (37-20-1), which was a 3-2 winner over host Liberty on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ET).
• The Owls drew the top seed in the tournament and advanced to the championship round after posting a 3-0 mark in Region 5 play. KSU recorded a 2-1 victory over Western Kentucky before registering back-to-back victories over host Georgia State (5-3, 3-2).
• Kennesaw State posted come-from-behind wins in all three games of Region 5 play.
• The Owls are seeking their first postseason championship since winning the 1996 NCAA Division II national championship.
• KSU finished second in the ASUN Conference standings with an 11-6 mark and went 1-2 in the ASUN Conference Championship.
• The 39 wins by the Owls rank as the second most in program history since moving to the Division I level. KSU went 44-20 in 2007.
• Kennesaw State ranks in the Top 50 nationally in stolen bases per game, triples per game, doubles per game, batting average, slugging percentage, scoring and ERA.
• Head coach Pete D'Amour is in his first season leading the Kennesaw State program after spending the previous 10 years on the coaching staff at Missouri where he helped the Tigers advance to three Women's College World Series, eight NCAA Super Regionals, and 10 NCAA regionals, while winning two.
• Kennesaw State's trip to Lynchburg, Va., will mark a homecoming to their home region for head coach Pete D'Amour and senior pitcher Logan Viers. D'Amour is a native of Monrovia, Md., while Viers is from Abingdon, Va.
The Schedule
Sunday, May 21
Cal Poly (36-19) vs. Lamar (30-29), 4 p.m. ET
Weber State (36-20) vs. Liberty (41-23), 7 p.m. ET
 
Monday, May 22
Illinois State (33-22) vs. Lamar (31-29), 10 a.m. ET
Kennesaw State (39-18) vs. Weber State (37-20), 1 p.m. ET
 
Liberty vs. Illinois State/Lamar loser, 4 p.m. ET
Cal Poly vs. Kennesaw State/Weber State loser, 7 p.m. ET
 
Tuesday, May 23
Loser's bracket game, 1 p.m. ET
Winner's bracket game, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Loser's bracket game, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
 
Wednesday, May 24
Championship Game, 12 p.m. ET, (ESPN3)
Championship Game (if necessary), 3 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
 
The two semifinal games (May 23) and the championship (May 24) will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Cal Poly (37-19, 10-11 Big West)
• 3-0 in NSIC Region 1
• Top Hitter: Sierra Hyland (.331)
• Top Pitcher: Sierra Hyland (23-12, 0.97 ERA, 255 SO)
• Team Batting Average: .261
• Team ERA: 1.20
• Series versus Cal Poly: N/A
• Last Meeting versus Cal Poly: N/A
 
Illinois State (33-22, 20-6 Missouri Valley)
• 3-1 in NSIC Region 3
• Top Hitter: Jordan de los Reyes (.402, 19 HR, 69 RBIs)
• Top Pitcher: Sarah Finck (23-12, 2.58 ERA)
• Team Batting Average: .302
• Team ERA: 3.47
• Series versus Illinois State: N/A
• Last Meeting versus Illinois State: N/A
Lamar (31-29, 17-10 Southland)
• 3-1 in NISC Region 4
• Top Hitters: Brittany Rodriguez (.379); Sable Hankins (.299, 5 HR, 33 RBIs)
• Top Pitcher: Clara Luna (16-17, 2.17 ERA)
• Team Batting Average: .271
• Team ERA: 2.99
• Series versus Lamar: N/A/
• Last Meeting versus Lamar: N/A
 
Liberty (41-23, 16-5 Big South)
• 3-1 in NISC Region 6
• Top Hitters: Autumn Bishop (.387); Amber Bishop (.356, 13 HR, 60 RBIs)
• Top Pitcher: Julia DiMartino (19-10, 1.93 ERA, 167 SO)
• Team Batting Average: .304
• Team ERA: 2.64
• Series versus Liberty: Tied, 2-2
• Last Meeting versus Liberty: 2010, Liberty won, 8-5
 
Weber State (36-20-1, 15-5 Big Sky)
• 3-1 in NISC Region 2
• Top Hitters: Takesha Saltern (.456, 53 Runs); Sara Hingsberger (.341, 14 2Bs, 7 HR, 53 RBIs)
• Top Pitcher: Kirtlyn Bohling (21-12, 2.65 ERA, 141 SO)
• Team Batting Average: .324
• Team ERA: 3.35
• Series versus Weber State: N/A/
• Last Meeting versus Liberty: N/A
 
UP NEXT
The double-elimination NISC Championship round will conclude Kennesaw State's 2017 season.
 
COURTNEY SUTTER TABBED NFCA All-SOUTH REGION
The postseason honors continued for senior Courtney Sutter as she was named third team all-south region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Thursday (May 18). Sutter became the third Kennesaw State player to earn NFCA regional honors during the program's Division I era. She joins Jessica Cross (2008) and Sharon Swanson (2011) who previously receive all-region accolades. The KSU catcher, who has enjoyed a career-year in 2017 is batting .382 with 15 home runs, 50 RBIs, a .724 slugging percentage, .462 on-base percentage and 39 runs scored, all career bests that rank among the ASUN Conference leaders. Her 15 home runs and .724 slugging percentage rank fifth on KSU's single-season lists.
 
RECORD SEVEN PLAYERS EARN ASUN CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
The successful regular by Kennesaw State resulted in a record seven individuals earning ASUN All-Conference honors. Highlighting the list were senior Courtney Sutter and freshman Alley Cutting, who were named Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. Both players were tabbed first-team all-conference, while senior Taylor Denton, Olivia Tamewitz, sophomore Hannah Thomason and junior Noelle Winkles were selected to the second team. Katey Lynch joined Cutting and Tamewitz on the all-freshman team.
 
TAMEWITZ NAMED TOP 25 FINALIST FOR NFCA NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Outfielder Olivia Tamewitz was named as one of 25 finalists for the Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Award, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on Thursday (April 20). The group includes nine infielders, six outfielders, four pitchers, four utility players and two catchers. The list will be pared from 25 to 10 on May 11, to three on May 24, and the National Freshman of the Year announcement is May 30. Tamewitz has started 44 games and is batting .377 with 31 runs scored, 55 hits (nine doubles, seven triples and two home runs) and 26 RBIs, while recording a .575 slugging percentage, .399 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts.
 
POSTSEASON POWER
Sophomore Jessie Mullen has come up big during postseason play. The KSU shortstop is batting .333 (6-for-18) with five runs scored and leads the team with five runs scored, three home runs and four RBIs. She muscled two home runs during the ASUN Conference Championship, including an extra-inning game-winner versus North Florida, and cleared the fence against Georgia State during the NISC Tournament.
 
SUTTER HOT
Senior Courtney Sutter has been hot over the last six games, batting .400 (6-for-15) with three runs scored, two home runs and three RBIs. She homered in the ASUN Conference Championship and added a big homer during the Owls' 5-3 come-from-behind win over Georgia State in the NISC.
 
2017 KENNESAW STATE HONORS
 
ASUN Pitcher of the Week
Alley Cutting (March 6)
Alley Cutting (March 27)
Logan Viers (April 3)
 
ASUN Player of the Week
Courtney Sutter (Feb. 27)
Courtney Sutter (March 13)
Taylor Denton (April 3)
Hannah Thomason (April 17)
Courtney Sutter (May 2)
 
ASUN Player of the Year
Courtney Sutter (Sr., Catcher)
 
ASUN Freshman of the Year
Alley Cutting (Pitcher)
 
ASUN All-Conference First Team
Alley Cutting
Courtney Sutter
 
ASUN All-Conference Second Team
Taylor Denton
Hannah Thomason
Olivia Tamewitz
Noelle Winkles
 
ASUN All-Freshman Team
Alley Cutting
Katey Lynch
Olivia Tamewitz
 
ASUN All-Tournament Team
Jessie Mullen
 
Fastpitch News NCAA Division I Top
Performer of the Week
Olivia Tamewitz (March 7)
 
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 Finalist
Olivia Tamewitz
 
NFCA All-South Region
Courtney Sutter (Third Team)
 
BATTED BALLS
• With 43 home runs on the season, KSU has surpassed its home run total from a year ago when the Owls hit 18 in 58 games. The total currently ties for fifth on Kennesaw State's single-season home run list and is three shy of tying the 2005 team's 46.
 
• KSU has three players– Courtney Sutter (No. 4; .382), Hannah Thomason (No. 8; .360) and Noelle Winkles (No. 9; .355) – ranked among the ASUN's top 10 in hitting.
 
• Sutter (.724) leads the ASUN Conference in slugging percentage, home runs (15) and RBIs (50). The Owls' senior has established single-season career highs in home runs, RBIs and runs scored (39). She also leads the Owls with 21 multiple-hit and 12 multiple RBI games.
 
• Sophomore Hannah Thomason has had a breakout season in 2017. Her .360 average is a career best, and she has established single-season career highs in runs (46), hits (67), and stolen bases (33). Her stolen base total is a KSUs single-season stolen base record.
 
• Thomason's 54 career stolen bases (in 59 attempts) rank fourth on KSU's all-time list. Denton is currently the Owls' all-time leader with 80.
 
• Winkles ranks among the top 10 in the country with 18 doubles.
 
• Olivia Tamewitz is putting together a stellar freshman campaign as she has posted a .337 average, scored 39 runs, and collected 62 hits, including 12 doubles, eight triples and two home runs, while totaling 18 RBIs. She has a .522 slugging percentage, .366 on-base percentage and is 19-for-22 in stolen base attempts. She is fifth in the nation in triples, and ranks among the ASUN Conference's leaders in batting average, slugging percentage, hits and total bases.
 
• Five different Owls have had hitting streaks of at least 10 games this season. Hannah Thomason has had 12 and 10-game hitting streaks while Sutter and Tamewitz each have had 11-game streaks, and Beth McCulley and Taylor Denton have produced streaks of 10 games.
 
• Courtney Sutter and Katey Lynch were KSU's top hitters in ASUN Conference play, posting .362 and .341 averages, respectively. Sutter went 21-for-58, while Lynch finished 15-for-44. Sutter tied for fourth in the ASUN, while Lynch was 10th.
• With 35 home runs, Sutter is fifth on Kennesaw State's all-time career home run list.
 
QUICK PITCHES
• Kennesaw State is third in the ASUN Conference with a 2.31 earned-run average and its 1.67 ERA in conference play ranked second.
 
• Freshman Alley Cutting is fifth in the ASUN in ERA (2.20), third in strikeouts (183), wins (19), opponents' average (.222) and fifth innings pitched (193.2).
 
• Senior Logan Viers ranks sixth in ERA (2.26), seventh in opponents' batting average (.252), sixth in wins (14) and ninth in strikeouts (76). During ASUN Conference play, the Owls' right-hander is sixth in ERA (2.00), 10th in innings pitched (42.0) and seventh in opponents' batting average (.250).
 
• Redshirt junior Abby Green has been a key contributor down the stretch for the Owls. She has made 16 appearances, starting seven games and recorded a 5-2 record, 1.68 ERA and three saves. She has struck out 47 batters in 50 innings. During ASUN Conference play, she recorded a 2-0 mark, 0.33 ERA and three saves in 21 1/3 innings.

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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