Kennesaw State baseball fell 9-2 to ASUN foe, Liberty University, in game one of the series at Stillwell Stadium on April 14.
Senior Josh Hatcher launched a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 28, but ultimately, it was not enough to push the Owls to victory.
The Owls stayed head-to-head with Liberty through the first three innings until the Flames had a breakthrough fourth inning and ran away with the lead.
The Flames crossed the plate first in the top of the first inning with an RBI single. The Owls responded with a single byCash Young to tie the game up at one. That hit marked Young’s 30th RBI on the season.
In the top of the fourth inning, Liberty broke loose hitting two, 2-run home runs and adding to the score, 5-1. The Flames added four more runs to the board in innings six and seven, taking their lead up, 9-1. The Owls attempted to respond but left five runners stranded on base through the bottom of the sixth inning.
Hatcher’s solo home run in the seventh inning added one run to the Owls’ score, making it 9-2, but that score became final.
KSU tallied five hits on the day, including a double by senior Tyler Simon. The shortstop was recently announced as an official watch list candidate for the Brooks Wallace Award. This prestigious award is given to the nation’s top shortstop for their combined offensive and defensive performance.
The Owls will go on the road following their recent doubleheader at home. They will go head to head against Georgia State Panthers Tuesday, April 19 at 4 p.m.
