Kennesaw State Begins ASUN Tournament Run Tuesday - Kennesaw State University Athletics (2024)

By: Michael Pitts

DELAND, Fla. - Two-seeded Kennesaw State baseball is set to begin its quest for a second Atlantic Sunchampionship in three seasons with Pool A action beginning Tuesday, May 21 against host school No. 3 Stetson.

The Black and Gold enter the event having gone 19-10 in conference action and is on their longest win streak of the 2024 campaign at four - all ASUN games. Seven Owl baseball student-athletes won ASUN postseason honors earlier Monday.

KSU enters Pool A of the event with the Hatters, No. 1 Austin Peay, and No. 4 FGCU. Three of the four Pool A squads advance to the semifinals. In nine games against the teams in its pool this season, KSU won five games including taking two of three from both the Governors and Eagles.

Kennesaw State won the 2022 ASUN title in head coach Ryan Coe's first season at the helm. 2024 marks the Owls' final season of competition in the ASUN Conference before joining Conference USA on July 1.

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Dates: Tuesday, May 21 through Sunday, May 26
Location: DeLand, Fla.
Site: Melching Field
Official Bracket
Full Schedule
All games on ESPN+

Date: Tuesday, May 21
Time: 2:30 p.m.
KSU Game Notes
Radio | ESPN+ | Live StatsNo. 2 Kennesaw State vs. No. 4 FGCU - POOL A GAME
Date: Wednesday, May 22
Time: 10:00 a.m.
KSU Game Notes
Radio | ESPN+ | Live StatsNo. 2 Kennesaw State vs. No. 1 Austin Peay- POOL A GAME
Canceled

No. 2 Kennesaw State vs. No. 6 Central Arkansas- ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL
Date: Saturday, May 25
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Game Notes
Radio | ESPN+ | Live Stats

Date: Sunday, May 26
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Game Notes
Radio | ESPN+ | Live Stats

All-ASUN Stars
Seven Owls earned Atlantic Sun postseason honors, including Blake Aita, Bo Rhudy and Nick Hassan being named to the All-ASUN First Team. Isaac Bouton and Spencer Hanson were selected to the second team while Braden Osbolt earned third team honors. Shamaar McDuffie and Rhudy were tabbed as All-Freshman Team selections and Aita earned ASUN All-Academic honors. Click here to learn more.

A Sweeping Send-Off
2024 marked the final season of competition for KSU baseball inside its longtime home of Stillwell Stadium.The Owls went 13-6 at home this season, including sweeping the final home series at The Shake in three games over Lipscomb.

In September 2023, the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia approved two major construction projects at Kennesaw State University, one of which included a new stadium for KSU baseball. Plans for the stadium reconstruction include premium and hospitality seating, and the stadium will match the program's aspirations with the ability to host NCAA Regional and Super Regional rounds.

No Donuts at Home
Inside the friendly confines of Stillwell Stadium, Kennesaw State baseball has not been shutout in176 home contests - the fourth-longest streak in the country. The last time KSU was shutout at home came on Feb. 27, 2018. The Owls have not placed a zero on the home scoreboard under coach Coe.

Welcome to the Team
Coach Coe and KSU baseball welcomed Bobby Baird to the team in early April through the Team IMPACT organization.Bobby lives with a neuromuscular disease called duch*enne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Clickhereto learn more.

Switching It Up
On Sunday, April 14 vs. Central Arkansas, redshirt juniorZac Corbinhad two home runs - one from each side of the plate. The switch hitter launched his first from the left and his second from the right, becoming the first Owl in Kennesaw State's DI history to achieve the feat.

Not a Coe-incidence
On March 28 against Austin Peay, Coeachieved his 75th win as the leader of KSU and his 40th inside The Shake. He surpassed Mike Sansing's record for fastest time to 75 Division I wins in KSU baseball history by five games.

Bouton's Rare Feat
On Opening Day at UAB, Boutonpulled off one of baseball's rarest feats. The senior blasted two home runs in the same inning against the Blazers. The third baseman led off with a solo shot, then added a three-run dinger later in the frame.

15-Straight MLB Draft Picks
Kennesaw State right-handed pitcherBlake Wehuntwas selected 268th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft last July. The selection marked the 73rd draft pick in KSU baseball history and extended the streak to 15 consecutive years the Owls have had at least one player drafted (excluding the 2020 COVID-shortened draft).

Cape Cod Success
Kennesaw State baseball sent two players to the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League inSmith Pinsonand Aita. Pinson dominated all year and was named to the 2023 Cape Cod Baseball All-League Team after posting a 3-1 record with a 2.68 ERA. Aita followed suit with a strong summer and was named a CCBL Top 100 Prospect, per Perfect Game USA. The Canton, Ga. native came in at No. 41 on the list of top prospects.

Roster Breakdown
The 2024 Owl baseball squad features a mixture of veterans and rookies. The team returns 25 players from last year's squad while adding 14 newcomers to The Nest. Out of the 14 new additions, 10 are true freshmen while four are transfers.

AtlanticSun Farewell
This season marks the final year Kennesaw State baseball will compete within the Atlantic Sun Conference. On July 1, 2024, the team will move into Conference USA where they will join Dallas Baptist, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP and Western Kentucky. Delaware and Missouri State join CUSA on July 1, 2025.