Kennesaw State baseball carries the biggest win in program history into Newark, Delaware, this weekend. The Owls stunned No. 4 Georgia 10-7 on Tuesday, and now they travel to face conference newcomer Delaware in a three-game series that could reshape their Conference USA standing.
Owls Stun No. 4 Georgia in Historic Upset
Kennesaw State jumped out to a 9-0 lead and withstood a late rally to knock off No. 4 Georgia, 10-7, Tuesday afternoon at Foley Field. The win was the Owls’ first over a Top Five opponent and their first in Athens since 2017.
That result changes everything about the vibe around this team heading into the weekend.
KSU scored in five different innings, highlighted by a four-run seventh that proved to be the difference. Eight different Owls recorded hits in the victory, led by Grayson McCollum’s 2-for-4 day with three RBIs. Aaron Posey and James McGee drove in two runs each. The Owls’ pitching staff stifled the nation’s best offense for six innings before the Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh and three in the eighth. Nolan Sliver made the start, tossing 2.0 innings with a strikeout before handing the ball to Ty Bayer. Harry Cain’s strikeout to end the seventh inning was the 100th of his career. He then closed out the final 2.1 innings and earned the save against one of the most loaded lineups in the country.
What is at Stake in Newark This Weekend
Kennesaw State baseball hits the road this weekend looking to secure its first Conference USA series victory of the season as it faces conference newcomer Delaware for the first time in program history.
The Owls sit at 11-10 overall and 2-4 in league play. Delaware stands at 10-15 overall with a 1-5 CUSA record. Both teams are hungry for wins that matter in the conference standings.
Here is a quick look at the weekend schedule:
| Game | Date and Time | Venue | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. ET | Bob Hannah Stadium | ESPN+ |
| Game 2 | Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m. ET | Bob Hannah Stadium | ESPN+ |
| Game 3 | Sunday, March 29 at 12 p.m. ET | Bob Hannah Stadium | ESPN+ |
The 2026 CUSA Tournament will take place in Kennesaw, Georgia, hosted by Kennesaw State, from May 20 to 24. The top eight teams following the regular season will advance. That makes every conference series count double for both squads right now.
Pitching Matchups to Watch All Weekend
Friday’s opener features a pitcher who has been lights-out in conference play.
Cooper McMullen has found his rhythm, going 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA across his last three starts. The Georgia Tech transfer allowed one run over 5.0 innings in the CUSA opener at Middle Tennessee before throwing 5.0 shutout innings against Liberty on March 20.
He will face Delaware’s Ryan McLaughlin. McLaughlin pitched a career-high five innings in the Blue Hens’ first-ever CUSA win over Dallas Baptist. He allowed four hits, two earned runs, and struck out two batters. He earned the win and is now 2-1.
Full pitching matchup breakdown:
- Friday: RHP Cooper McMullen (1-2, 4.68 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan McLaughlin (2-1, 4.13 ERA)
- Saturday: LHP Jayden Summerville (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs. RHP Doug Marose (1-3, 8.83 ERA)
- Sunday: RHP Nolan Sliver (0-0, 3.57 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Deibler (1-1, 3.91 ERA)
Saturday’s game could be the best chance for KSU to grab a win. Marose carries an 8.83 ERA into that start, and the Owls’ offense has been improving all season long.
Delaware’s First Year in Conference USA
The Fightin’ Blue Hens are entering their first season as a member of Conference USA. Delaware and Missouri State joined Conference USA after the 2025 season, making this a transition year for both programs. The University of Delaware baseball program earned its first-ever Conference USA victory as the Fightin’ Blue Hens defeated Dallas Baptist by a score of 5-4 on Friday at Bob Hannah Stadium. The offense was engineered by three solo home runs off the bats of Evan Bouldin, LT Cockrill and Matthew Minckler. For Bouldin, it was his team-leading seventh home run of the season.
Still, the road has been rough. LA Tech downed Delaware in their inaugural matchup, shutting out the Blue Hens by a score of 5-0. Delaware lost that opening CUSA series at Louisiana Tech before splitting with Dallas Baptist at home.
University of Delaware Head Baseball Coach Greg Mamula knows his team needs to find consistency fast. This weekend is their first CUSA home series, and the Blue Hens will look to use the home crowd at Bob Hannah Stadium to build some momentum.
KSU’s Offensive Surge and Key Players
Overall, the Owls’ offense has taken a step forward in 2026, producing more consistently across the lineup than at the same point last season. Through 21 games, KSU has increased its batting average, runs, extra-base hits and slugging percentage.
The catching duo has been a big reason why.
Aaron Posey enters the weekend hitting .382 with an eight-game hitting streak, three doubles and three home runs. He matched his entire career home run total in just 13 games this season.
James McGee is batting .291 with four doubles and a team-high four home runs through 20 appearances.
Kennesaw State has been especially dangerous late in games, scoring 52 of its 115 runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. That late-game punch could be the difference in tight conference matchups.
Players chasing milestones this weekend:
- Jackson Chirello hit the 48th double of his career, ranking fifth in Kennesaw State’s Division I history. The D-I era record is 57 doubles set by Donovan Cash from 2022 to 2025.
- Chris Cole enters the weekend with 47 career stolen bases, third in KSU’s Division I era and fifth all-time.
- Daniel Powell is rapidly approaching 100 career strikeouts, entering the weekend with 96 career punchouts.
On the mound, Powell has been one of the best relievers in the entire country. He owns a 1.57 ERA across 10 appearances this season, ranking among the top 30 qualified Division I pitchers.
This weekend in Newark is about more than just wins and losses. It is about two programs writing a brand-new chapter in Conference USA baseball. For Kennesaw State, riding the high of a historic win at Georgia, the goal is clear: turn momentum into a series victory. For Delaware, playing its first-ever home conference series against KSU, the stakes are just as personal. College baseball fans should keep a close eye on Bob Hannah Stadium this weekend. Drop your predictions in the comments below and let us know which team you think takes the series.
