Box Score | Buy Championship Shirts

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kennesaw State baseball defeated Liberty by a score of 10-6 to claim the 2022 ASUN Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon inside Swanson Stadium. The win gives the Owls (35-26, 19-11 ASUN) their first tournament trophy since the 2014 season and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals next weekend.

"This has always been our goal this year, and this should be our goal from here on out as a program," said head coach Ryan Coe. "We want to play championship baseball and that is what we did."

After dropping games one and two of the ASUN tournament, the Owls had to win three-straight to earn the conference crown. KSU defeated Florida Gulf Coast in a nail-biter on Thursday morning, then eliminated Lipscomb last night to reach the championship game. Today's contest completed the three-game feat and kept the Owls' season alive.

"We come out here and play as hard as we can," said Coe. "That has been the motto of our team since day one. It doesn't matter who we are playing, where we are playing, or what the score is. We are going to play as hard as possible until the last out is made."

Jack Myers got the start and tossed the four innings. The right-hander surrendered two runs on three hits in his third appearance of the tournament. Following the conclusion of the game, Myers was one-of-five Owls named to the All-Tournament Team.

John Bezdicek (5-1) was the first Owl out of the bullpen and threw four innings in relief. The southpaw entered on one-day of rest and bridged the game for the KSU bullpen. Bezdicek allowed only one run and struck out three batters to earn the win.

It was only fitting that fifth-year senior, Tyler Simon, recorded the last out and tied a career-high with four hits in the contest. The senior finished 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored. Simon was named to the All-Tournament team and recorded a hit in all five postseason games.

Josh Hatcher was named the ASUN Tournament MVP after blasting four home runs and recording nine RBI on the week. The KSU centerfielder was 1-for-5 with two runs scored in today's contest and extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

Spencer Hanson smashed two doubles and scored two runs in a 2-for-5 afternoon at the plate. The KSU designated hitter recorded multiple hits in three of KSU's five tournament games.

Brayden Eidson collected two hits and one run scored in the tournament finale. The outfielder was productive all week in the lineup and scored at least one run in three of his four starts.

Cash Young finished 1-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. The third baseman was selected to the All-Tournament Team and collected four doubles in the five postseason games.

Kennesaw State scored two runs in the first to take an early lead. Hatcher worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single from Simon. A Zac Corbin hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Donovan Cash, who drew a walk that drove in the first Owl of the afternoon. Young followed by hitting into a double play, but Simon scored to give KSU a 2-0 advantage.

In the third, Simon stepped to the plate with one out. The senior lined the first pitch of his at-bat deep over the wall in left to push the lead to 3-0. The homer marked the seventh of the year for the KSU shortstop.

The Owls extended the lead with two runs in the fourth. A single from Eidson put runners on first and second for Nick Hassan. In a 2-0 count, the KSU catcher lined a base hit to right that scored the fourth Owl of the afternoon. Next up was Nick Colina who registered a sacrifice fly that pushed the Kennesaw State advantage to 5-0.

Liberty cut into the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Flames got on the board with a two-run homer from Cameron Foster. Three batters later, Gray Betts followed with a solo shot to bring the score to 5-3.

The Flames loaded the bases in the sixth with only one out. Bezdicek extinguished the rally with two huge strikeouts that ended the threat. This swung the momentum in favor of Kennesaw State as the Owls stepped up to bat in the seventh.

Simon led off with a single to left field for his third hit of the day. He was bunted to second by Corbin and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. With two outs in the frame, back-to-back doubles from Young and Hanson plated two runs. Eidson followed with an infield single which allowed the third run to cross the plate. This moved the KSU advantage to 8-3.

The Owls tallied one more run in the eighth. Hatcher reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a base knock from Simon. Corbin followed with a hard ground ball that forced an error and allowed Hatcher to score from second. This extended the lead to 9-3.

Kennesaw State added one final insurance run in the top of the ninth. Hanson hit his second double of the afternoon and advanced to third on a ground out. Pinch-runner Joseph Gossett flew home on a perfect dirtball read that bounced only a few feet away from the Liberty catcher.

Liberty scored three in the bottom of the ninth, but Smith Pinson slammed the door to give Kennesaw State its first ASUN Tournament Championship since 2014.

The Owls find out where their season continues on Monday, May 30 when the NCAA Baseball Selection Show airs on ESPN2 at noon.  

Fans can purchase Kennesaw State baseball ASUN Championship apparel by clicking here!

To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State baseball team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook and Instagram.