UNION, N.J. – The Shenandoah University baseball team earned its first regional championship since 2010 with a 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the Union Regional over Kean (N.J.).

The Hornets (35-13) advance to next week's Super Regional versus Johns Hopkins thanks to the Sunday sweep over Kean (31-16).

An official announcement as to the location of next week's best-of-three series with the Blue Jays is expected to be announced by the NCAA on Monday.

IN DEPTH

Seemingly out of pitching after coming through the loser's bracket, Shenandoah got a performance for the ages from senior Ryan Coulon.

Coulon (1-0), making just his second-ever start and third career appearance, allowed just one run on six hits in 7.0 innings to put the Hornets in position to win the title.

After allowing the leadoff hitter in the eighth to reach base, SU skipper Kevin Anderson turned to freshman Matt Barnes to close out the contest.

Barnes earned his first career save by immediately inducing a double play ball, and then a groundout to second.

In the ninth, he worked around a one-out double to get a fly ball to center and a groundout to third to clinch the victory.

With the score tied at 1-1, Shenandoah scored three runs on four hits off of Cougars starter Daniel Chiusano in the sixth to provide the winning margin.

Tristan Baker got the rally started with a one-out single to right before Keegan Woolford drove him home on a double into the left-center gap.

Luke Nussman was then intentionally walked, bringing Jamie Naill to the plate.

Naill, the Hornets DH, made Kean pay with an RBI single to right center.

Grant Thompson, who had homered to right in the third, drove in the final run with an infield single.

Shenandoah turned three double plays and did not commit an error in the win.

Baker, Nussman and Thompson all had two hits.

Baker is now four hits from the all-time lead at Shenandoah.

###