Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Kennesaw State baseball overcame a four-run deficit to defeat Army West Point by a score of 9-8 on Saturday afternoon inside Pete Taylor Park. With the win, the Owls (36-27) collect their first victory in an NCAA Regional since 2014 and advance to the next round of the tournament. The Black Knights (31-25) have been eliminated.

The KSU pitching staff threw four pitchers in the contest while reliever Nathan Holler (6-5) earned the win. The sophomore entered in the seventh and tossed one inning to get the Owls out of a jam. Holler made his team-leading 25th appearance and is now tied with Smith Pinson for the team-lead in wins (6).

With a one run lead, the Owls turned to freshman Harry Cain to close the game out. The 6'6 right-hander tossed the final 1.2 innings and allowed only one hit to earn the first save of his collegiate career. Cain struck out two and made his ninth appearance of the season.

The KSU offense remained hot and registered its 10th consecutive game with double-digit hits. The team finished with 14 total and had eight-of-nine starters reach base safely.

The 1-4 hitters in the Owl lineup combined to go 10-for-20 in the contest, while each batter registered a multi-hit afternoon.

Josh Hatcher powered the top of the order and smashed two home runs at the plate. The KSU centerfielder finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored in the victory. Hatcher has homered eight times in his last 10 games which brings his season total to a career-high, 15.

Donovan Cash was the other Owl to collect three hits in the contest as he did so with a 3-for-5 performance. The first baseman drove in a run and scored once en rout to his team-leading 31st multi-hit game.

Tyler Simon and Zac Corbin each contributed 2-for-5 days at the plate. Simon scored three times and stole two bases in the win.

Army jumped on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to take an early advantage. The Owls answered with a Hatcher home run in the third followed by a fielder's choice RBI from Cash to re-take the lead.

The Black Knights exploded for five runs in the fourth to take a commanding 6-2 lead as the game progressed into the middle innings.

Kennesaw State rallied for four runs on five hits in the fifth to tie the game at six runs apiece. Colina reached on an error and scored on Hatcher's second long ball of the afternoon. Simon followed with a base hit and advanced to third on a single from Cash.

Back-to-back singles from Cash Young and Spencer Hanson continued the rally and scored two more runs for the KSU offense.

The Owls took their second lead of the day with two-outs in the sixth frame. Simon reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third with a single from Corbin. As Cash stepped in, the Black Knights reliever spiked a fastball that got away from the catcher and allowed Simon to cross home plate.

Army tied the game again with one run in the seventh, but Nick Hassan laced a single to centerfield in the bottom half which scored two and moved the Owls back ahead.

The Black Knights pulled the game within one with a run in the eighth, but Cain entered and slammed the door to secure the victory for Kennesaw State.

The Owls are back in action tomorrow and will play the loser of tonight's LSU vs. Southern Miss game. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. (ET) inside Pete Taylor Park.

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.