Box Score (PDF)
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Kennesaw State baseball team (32-24, 19-11 ASUN Conference) came up short in a 16-12 back-and-forth high-scoring showdown against the Liberty Flames (33-20, 19-11 ASUN) to close out the regular season at Liberty Baseball Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Owls finish off the schedule earning a share of the 2022 ASUN East Division Championship.
Josh Hatcher ended the regular season on a high note, going 4-for-6 with two hits in the first two innings of the game. He tallied four RBI and three runs including a three-run homer.
Left fielder
Zac Corbin crushed a homer in the first inning and doubled. He also had a four-RBI day.
Nick Colina went 3-for-4 with an RBI. The Owls right fielder crossed home three times.
KSU got the offense going early on a leadoff single from Hatcher to open the game. Corbin homered to right center two batters later after
Tyler Simon was hit by a pitch. Corbin's homer gave the Owls a 3-0 lead after one.
Liberty plated four in the bottom of the second and one in the third to take a two-run lead.
The Owls cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth, starting with a groundout from Hatcher that scored
Nick Colina. A sacrifice fly from Simon sent
Hudson Mimbs home, slicing the Liberty lead to 8-5.
The scoring continued with a huge top of the fifth. With two outs, Colina singled to score Eidson. Then Hassan came home on a fielding error by the Flames. In the next at-bat with Colina and Mimbs on base, Hatcher launched a ball to deep center to cap a five-run fifth to give KSU a 10-8 lead.
The Flames scored eight runs through the fifth and seventh innings to take a 16-10 lead.
Simon plated a run in the bottom of the ninth, sending Colina home from third. With two outs, Corbin doubled in the next at-bat to score Hatcher and cut the deficit to 16-12. The Flames ended the KSU rally to get the win.
The Owls begin their run in the 2022 ASUN Baseball Championship with pool play starting Tuesday, May 24. KSU's opponent and seed in the tournament is to be determined.
All games of the tournament will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and heard on the KSU Owls App.
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.
