Kennesaw State Hosts the CUSA Baseball Championship at Mickey Dunn Stadium

By faNILy Team · May 25, 2026

Kennesaw had a big week. Kennesaw State hosted the 2026 Conference USA Baseball Championship at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field. For a school that joined CUSA in July 2024, hosting the league's postseason was a statement.

A new format

This year's tournament looked different. KSU Athletics described a new format that split the nine qualifying teams into three pools of three. Each team played two pool games, with the pool winners and the best remaining seed advancing to Saturday's semifinals.

The Owls' week

Kennesaw State came in as the No. 7 seed, drawing No. 4 Dallas Baptist on Wednesday, May 20, and No. 3 Missouri State on Thursday, May 21. Both games streamed on ESPN+.

It didn't go the Owls' way. Dallas Baptist won the opener 6-0, holding KSU to two hits. Starter Nolan Sliver kept it close, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings. On Thursday, Missouri State won 6-4 to end KSU's season at 25-28.

There were still bright spots in the finale:

Harry Cain held the conference's second-highest scoring offense to two runs across 5.1 innings
Senior Jackson Chirello hit a two-run homer in the eighth and finished his career with highs in home runs (13) and hits (60)
Chris Cole stole his 65th career base, moving into second place on KSU's all-time list, and extended his on-base streak to 38 games

A season with a lot to build on

KSU's athletics site noted a few things fans should be proud of heading into the week:

It was the Owls' second CUSA Championship appearance, after reaching the semifinals in 2025
Five Owls earned All-Conference honors
Three of them were freshmen named to the All-Freshman team, the only squad with more than two
KSU played one of the nation's most challenging schedules, with 13 games against ranked opponents

That young core is the part to watch. Freshmen earning all-league recognition usually means the next couple of seasons could be fun in Kennesaw.

Why hosting matters

Hosting a conference championship brings visiting teams, fans and TV exposure to campus. It shows off the ballpark and gives local fans a chance to see high-level college baseball without traveling.

It's also a reminder of how much is happening at schools outside the power conferences. Kennesaw State has been building quickly. Football won the CUSA championship in December 2025, and men's basketball won its first Conference USA tournament title this spring to earn its second NCAA tournament berth in four years. Each of those moments gives fans more reasons to pay attention, and gives KSU athletes a bigger stage.

A Georgia note

As a Georgia company, we love seeing Kennesaw get a week in the spotlight. College sports in this state isn't just about the biggest programs. Athletes at schools like KSU are building followings of their own, and fans here are noticing.

Congrats to the Owls on a season with a lot to build on.