DALLAS - Five Owls were selected for Conference USA postseason honors, including two on the first team, one on the second team and two All-Freshman. Sporting a career-best season, Donovan Cash cracked CUSA's First Team All-Conference along with Bo Rhudy, the only Owl to make it on the preseason and postseason ledger. The conference office announced Tuesday afternoon that Outfielder Nate Anderson was tabbed for Second Team All-Conference while pitcher Ty Bayer and infielder Wesley Alig were honored with All-Freshman spots.
Cash has put together a season that has bested his All-American freshman year in 2022. Leading Conference USA in doubles, Cash has demolished numerous D-I records for the Owls, including home runs, RBI (All-Time), doubles and total bases. The graduate's 21 doubles are 14th and 28th in the NCAA. On top of 17 homers this year, he has elevated his average to .322 with a 1.091 OPS.
Bo Rhudy has been nearly untouchable in Conference play, sporting a 0.51 ERA in 17.2 innings. He's allowed just one run while totaling 20 strikeouts and a whopping .089 opp avg.
Anderson's name is etched in the history books as he became the single-game all-time program leader for RBI in a game, as he posted eight versus Liberty on April 27 this year. The left-handed outfielder became the first player in program history to earn a Conference USA player of the week award. Anderson is towards the top of the league in several categories with a .325 average, 57 runs and 24 stolen bases.
Freshmen Alig and Bayer were vital to the Owls this year as Alig served as the everyday second and third baseman while Bayer predominantly served as the Friday night starter. Alig has earned a reputation for notching clutch hits. All five home runs have come in the fifth inning or later with two in extra innings (Citadel & Jax State). He also earned the final CUSA player of the week after his performances versus Ga. Southern and MTSU, boosting his batting average above .300 on the year. Bayer ended the season with a 5.36 ERA in 50 innings along with 45 punch-outs.
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The three-seeded Owls begin their inaugural run in the 2025 Conference USA tournament starting Wednesday, May 21 at 9 a.m. against the No. 6 FIU Panthers on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the KSU Owl Network radio call here.
Player & Newcomer of the Year
Ryan Wideman, WKU
Pitcher of the Year
Drew Whalen, WKU
Defensive Player of the Year
Nathan Humphreys, DBU
Freshman of the Year
Brooks Roberson, LA Tech
Keith LeClair Coach of the Year
Marc Rardin, WKU
Assistant Coach of the Year
Dillon Napoleon, WKU
First Team All-Conference
C: Grant Jay, DBU
INF: Keaton Grady, DBU
INF: Chayton Krauss, DBU
INF: Brylan West, FIU
INF: Brandon Forrester, NM State
OF: Nathan Humphreys, DBU
OF: Eston Snider, MTSU
OF: Ryan Wideman, WKU
SP: Ryan Borberg, DBU
SP: Easton Marks, FIU
SP: Ben Blair, Liberty
SP: Drew Whalen, WKU
RP: Bo Rhudy, Kennesaw State
RP: Lucas Hartman, WKU
DH: Steve Solorzano, NM State
UT: Donovan Cash, Kennesaw State
Second Team All-Conference
C: Grayson Ashe, Jax State
INF: Trey Hawsey, LA Tech
INF: Brett Vondohlen, MTSU
INF: Kyle Hayes, WKU
INF: Carlos Vasquez, WKU
OF: Kishon Frett, FIU
OF: Nate Anderson, Kennesaw State
OF: Mitch Namie, NM State
SP: Jackson Phipps, Jax State
SP: Brooks Roberson, LA Tech
SP: Drew Horn, MTSU
SP: Jack Bennett, WKU
RP: Mason Peters, DBU
RP: Cal Higgins, WKU
DH: Sebastian Mexico, LA Tech
UT: Hunter Autrey, Sam Houston
All-Freshman Team
Cole Cleveland, FIU
Andrew Ildefonso, FIU
Wesley Alig, Kenneaw State
Ty Bayer, Kennesaw State
Jack Frankel, Liberty
Landon Scilley, Liberty
Trey Hawsey, LA Tech
Brooks Roberson, LA Tech
Brett Rogers, MTSU
Reid Howard, WKU
Taylor Penn, WKU
