Kennesaw State University Athletics
05/19/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/19/2022 21:16
Back-to-Back Home Runs Launch KSU Over Liberty, 9-6
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Tied 6-6 in the eighth inning, and hit back-to-back home runs to propel Kennesaw State to a 9-6 victory over Liberty on Thursday night at Worthington Field. With the win, the Owls (31-23, 18-10 ASUN Conference) and the Flames (32-19, 18-10 ASUN) sit tied for first place in the ASUN Eastern Division with two games remaining in the regular season.
The win gives Kennesaw State its 18th ASUN victory and ties the program record set during the 2011 season. The team's 31 total wins are only two shy of the program's Division I regular season record that was set back in 2014.
The Owls' offense launched four home runs to lead the team to victory. Eidson and Hatcher went back-to-back on consecutive pitches which ended up as the difference in the ballgame. and each added two and three run shots, respectively.
Kennesaw State got a great start from right-handed pitcher . The graduate transfer worked 6.2 innings and struck out seven batters. Myers earned a no-decision and exited the ballgame with the score tied 6-6.
(6-4) entered in relief and notched his team-leading sixth win. The freshman was electric for the Owls as he retired all seven batters faced. Pinson induced five ground outs, one fly out and punched out the final batter of the game.
The KSU offense finished the night with 13 total hits and had four Owls register 2-or-more. All nine starters reached base safely with either a hit or a walk.
Hatcher led the way with a 3-for-4 performance and was only a triple shy of his third cycle this season. In his third at-bat of the game, the KSU centerfielder ripped his 24th double to tie the KSU single-season record set by Max Pentecost in 2014.
Eidson was extremely productive out of the nine-hole and finished 2-for-4 with a home run, triple, two RBI and two runs scored. His go-ahead dinger in the eighth was the second long ball of the year for the KSU outfielder.
Simon ended the night 1-for-5 but his lone hit was a big one. The senior lined a three-run homer over the left field wall to give KSU a 6-2 lead early in the game.
Cash continued his hot hitting and extended his hit streak to 10 with a 2-for-5 performance. During the streak, the first baseman has posted multiple hits in nine of the 10 games.
contributed a 2-for-5 night to record his 18th multi-hit game. The third baseman currently leads the team in home runs (15) and RBI (54). He is one shy from breaking the program's single-season home run record.
Liberty scored one run in both the first and second innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
Hatcher began the KSU third with a single and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Corbin roped a line drive up the middle to score Hatcher and pull the deficit to one. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Cash belted his ninth home run of the season to give the Owls a 3-2 advantage.
The Kennesaw State offense continued to rake in the fourth. Eidson starting the inning with a leadoff triple to right-center field. Hatcher drew a full-count walk to put runners on the corners with no outs. On the third pitch of his at-bat, Simon hammered a fastball over the left-field fence for his sixth of the year and moved the score to 6-2.
The Owls' offense compiled nine hits with two home runs, a triple and two walks in the first three frames.
The Flames tied the game with two runs in both the sixth and seventh. Kennesaw State answered and scored three times via back-to-back home runs from Eidson and Hatcher. This pushed the score to 9-6 which held as the final.
KSU is back in action tomorrow for game two of its ASUN series with Liberty. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. on Worthington Field at the Liberty Baseball Stadium.
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