ATLANTIC SUN RELEASE 
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – With the start of the 2015 season just around the corner, the Kennesaw State baseball team picked up three individual accolades following the release of the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason all-conference team that was announced on Wednesday (Jan. 28).
 
In addition to having three players receive individual honors, the Owls are also the coaches' choice to capture the A-Sun Conference title. KSU was picked to finish first after receiving 61 points and six of eight first-place votes.
 
Juniors Travis Bergen, Alex Liquori and Kal Simmons each earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team after putting up solid 2014 seasons and helping lead the Owls to the Tallahassee Regional championship.

"We are obviously very proud of these three guys and their selection to the preseason all-conference team," head coach Mike Sansing said. "I thought all three of them had outstanding years for us last year. We are counting on them very heavily this year." 
 
Bergen was 9-5 with a 2.89 ERA while starting for the Owls as a sophomore. His nine wins ranked second in the A-Sun Conference. He had one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios in the country, striking out 78 batters while issuing just 15 free passes. 
 
The Kennesaw State southpaw was named the Tallahassee Regional's Most Outstanding Player after collecting two wins in four games. He tossed a career-high 8.2 innings while leading the Owls to a 1-0 win over Alabama in the opening game of the regional and came back on three day's rest to toss 3.1 scoreless innings in a regional-clinching 4-2 victory over Alabama.

Simmons, who earned second team all-conference honors a year ago, started 62 games for the Owls at shortstop during his sophomore campaign and batted .272 while collecting 73 hits and 26 RBI.  On the base paths, Simmons scored 46 runs and stole three bases. His 190 assists from the shortstop position ranked fourth in the A-Sun Conference.

Liquori returns for his junior season after earning second team All-A-Sun Conference honors a year ago. He ranked second on the team with a .354 average, collected 63 hits, drove in 42 runs and totaled 93 outfield putouts from his right field position
 
The Owls enjoyed a record-breaking season a year ago as they won their first Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament championship, captured the Tallahassee Regional and advanced to the Louisville Super Regional. The team set the school's Division I record for wins (40), and consecutive wins (16).
 
Expectations are high for the Owls heading into the season as they are ranked No. 19 in the Baseball America preseason poll that was released on Monday (Jan. 26), No. 24 by Perfect Game and No. 27 by Collegiate Baseball.
 
Kennesaw State will open the 2015 campaign with a three home weekend games Feb. 13-15 when they host Liberty (Feb. 13), St. Johns (Feb. 14) and Fordham (Feb. 15) at Stillwell Stadium as part of the Atlanta Classic.
 
Season tickets are currently on sale for the full 29-home game schedule at $39 per ticket. Single-game tickets are also available at $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-12). Group tickets for 10 or more people are available for advanced purchase, excluding the Georgia (Feb. 17), Georgia Tech (Mar. 17) and Georgia Southern (Mar. 24) games when individual tickets will be $10 for adults and $6 for youth. To order season tickets click here, or contact the KSU Athletic Ticket Office at 470-578-OWLS (6957).
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.