There’s no shortage of excitement in Kennesaw, Georgia, this weekend as the city becomes the beating heart of college sports. From fierce softball and baseball clashes to the high-stakes drama of March Madness and NFL Draft dreams, Kennesaw State University is taking center stage across multiple sports.
First up, the Sam Houston Bearkats softball team is hitting the road for a pivotal three-game series against the Kennesaw State Owls at Bailey Park. Scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 9 a.m., all games will be streamed live on ESPN+. The Bearkats, boasting a 19-13 overall record and 4-2 in Conference USA, are riding high after a 4-1 midweek win over UTSA and have captured both of their conference series to open league play. Their all-time record against Kennesaw State stands at 4-2, having swept the Owls in last season’s series.
Sophia Lundstrom is the offensive engine for Sam Houston, leading the team with a .407 batting average, nine doubles, and 44 hits over 108 at-bats. Veronica Harrison is making headlines of her own, with 11 home runs this season—just three shy of breaking the program’s all-time record. Not to be outdone, Morgan Holliday swiped her 12th base in the recent win over UTSA, overtaking Lundstrom’s previous team lead of 11. The Bearkats’ dynamic mix of power and speed is sure to test the Owls, who enter the series with a 5-20 overall record and 1-5 in conference play.
But softball isn’t the only diamond drama unfolding in Kennesaw. Liberty University’s baseball team is rolling into town for their first Conference USA road series of 2026, set to take on the Kennesaw State Owls at Mickey Dunn Stadium. The three-game set begins Friday at 6 p.m., continues Saturday at 4 p.m., and wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m.—all available on ESPN+ with Trey Fowler and Bryce Gaubert on the call. The Flames are eager to snap a two-game losing streak after tough battles against No. 24 Wake Forest and No. 9 Virginia earlier in the week. Despite the setbacks, Liberty holds a 4-2 road record this season and is determined to regain momentum.
Liberty’s offense is fueled by first baseman Riley DeCandido, who blasted two home runs and drove in four runs against Virginia—his second multi-homer game of the year. DeCandido leads the team with five home runs and has been red-hot, hitting .300 with four homers, eight RBIs, and seven runs over the last six games. Junior shortstop Tanner Marsh is another standout, topping the Flames with a .338 average, 18 runs, a .449 on-base percentage, and 10 stolen bases. Marsh’s consistency is remarkable—he’s reached base in each of the season’s first 18 games and recently enjoyed a 15-game hitting streak.
On the mound, Liberty boasts two of the nation’s most formidable right-handers. Ben Blair, named the 2026 CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year, enters the weekend with a 3-1 record, a sparkling 1.91 ERA, and 42 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings. His 0.58 WHIP ranks seventh nationally, and he’s earned CUSA Pitcher of the Week honors twice this season. Transfer Bradley Zayac isn’t far behind, holding a 3-0 record and a 1.69 ERA over 26 2/3 innings, with 31 strikeouts and only five walks. Both Blair and Zayac were recently named to the 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List, underscoring Liberty’s pitching depth.
Meanwhile, the Kennesaw State campus is buzzing for another reason: March Madness. The Owls men’s basketball team is preparing for a monumental showdown against perennial powerhouse Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, set for Thursday in Portland. Kennesaw State, one of the larger public universities in the tournament with 51,375 students and a 69% acceptance rate, earned its spot by winning the Conference USA tournament—securing only the program’s second NCAA appearance in four years. The Owls are still in search of their first-ever NCAA tournament win, having entered the 2026 bracket with an 0-1 all-time record after debuting in 2023.
Key players to watch include Simeon Cottle, RJ Johnson, and Frankquon Sherman—Sherman, in particular, has been a force on the boards, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game. Johnson and Sherman repeatedly took center stage during the conference tournament run, and their performances could be pivotal if the Owls are to keep things interesting against Gonzaga. While national pundits favor Gonzaga—ESPN’s matchup page predicted an 82-66 win for the Bulldogs—they also note that a competitive first half wouldn’t be surprising. Can Kennesaw State pull off a Cinderella upset? That’s the beauty of March: anything can happen, and the Owls have the guard play and grit to make it a battle if they start strong.
But the action doesn’t stop there. On Thursday, Kennesaw State football showcased its next wave of pro hopefuls at the team’s first Pro Day under new head coach Jerry Mack. Representatives from 17 NFL teams and two CFL teams flocked to the KSU campus to scout 15 former Owls as they participated in a battery of drills: bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, three-cone shuttle, and 20-yard shuttle.
The day was highlighted by standout performances. Defensive back Caleb Offord dazzled scouts with a 6.88-second three-cone drill—faster than any cornerback at this year’s NFL Combine—and a 4.50-second 40-yard dash, the fastest of the day. His 4.33-second shuttle drill and 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump would have ranked among the top at the Combine. Running back Coleman Bennett turned heads with a 4.25-second shuttle, the fastest by a running back at the Combine, and a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump. Defensive lineman Rod Daniels and Adam Watkins impressed with 27 and 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, respectively, both marks that would have placed them among the Combine’s elite. Safety James Ziglor’s 4.32-second shuttle tied for second among safeties at the Combine, further boosting his draft stock.
With the 2026 NFL Draft looming on April 23-25, these performances could be game-changers for Kennesaw State’s pro prospects. The university is also pushing forward with The Champions Fund, a philanthropic initiative aimed at strengthening KSU Athletics through enhanced recruitment, retention, and support for student-athletes. The fund is designed to elevate the student-athlete experience, from academics and nutrition to wellness and leadership development, helping the Owls compete at the highest level.
As the weekend unfolds, Kennesaw State finds itself at the crossroads of college sports—hosting fierce softball and baseball competition, making headlines in March Madness, and sending football talent to the professional ranks. Whether you’re tuning in for a nail-biting softball duel, a high-octane baseball series, or hoping for a historic basketball upset, Kennesaw is the place to be. The city and its university are proving they belong on the national stage, with every pitch, basket, and sprint capturing the spirit of competition and the dreams of athletes and fans alike.