DELAND, Fla. - Kennesaw State's (32-24, 19-10 Atlantic Sun Conference) incredible run in the 2024 ASUN tournament came to an end in the conference championship game Sunday afternoon to the Stetson Hatters (40-20, 20-10 ASUN), 5-3, at Melching Field.
The defeat caps off an impressive season for the Black and Gold that included three Power Five wins including handing No. 10 Clemson its worst home loss since 1936. KSU also took two of three from eventual SEC Regular Season Champion Kentucky.
Starter
Blake Aita,
Bo Rhudy,
Nick Hassan and
Jackson Chirello were named to the Atlantic Sun All-Tournament Team postgame.
Aita, Rhudy and Hassan earned All-ASUN First Team honors this week in addition to a second team selection for
Isaac Bouton and
Spencer Hanson.
Braden Osbolt was named to the All-ASUN Third Team.
Shamaar McDuffie joined Rhudy on the ASUN All-Freshman Team and Aita was tabbed as an ASUN All-Academic selection.
The Owls honored the 2024 senior class earlier this month that included Hanson, Hassan, Bouton,
Brayden Eidson,
Luke Cooper,
Zac Corbin,
Makenzie Stills,
Brooks Rosser and
Wade Richardson. Kennesaw State has now been two two ASUN title games in three years under head coach
Ryan Coe. The Owls also posted a seven-game win streak entering Sunday, the longest win streak in Coe's tenure. The resilient Owls won each of their first three tournament games by one run each
Eidson tallied two hits in Sunday's contest as well as first baseman
Donovan Cash, who posted his first collegiate triple in the bottom of the ninth.
Leadoff man
Chris Cole extended his impressive campaign with a two-run single that got Kennesaw State within a run in the sixth inning.
Aita threw just 14 pitches in the opening frame to retire the Hatters 1-2-3. Stetson led 3-0 after the top of the third.
Cooper entered in relief in the fourth and struck out two to send Stetson back to the dugout in order.
Corbin and
Jamarie Brooks reached to lead off the sixth inning. With those two in scoring position due to a McDuffie sacrifice bunt, Cole sent a 2-1 pitch to right to score both and cut the deficit to 3-2.
On just three days rest, Obsolt took the mount and pitched the final 3.2 frames, striking out five Hatters. Stetson added two in the eighth to go back up by three, 5-2.
Cash ripped a triple to right center with one out in the final inning then scored on a sacrifice fly from Chirello to make it 5-3. KSU's rally ended there as Stetson took the victory.
KSU ends its run in the 2024 ASUN tournament with a 32-24 overall record and 19-10 in ASUN play. 2024 marked the Owls' final season in the Atlantic Sun before moving to Conference USA on July 1, 2024.
