Stetson's Senior Meredith Owen Leads Hatters to the Title

The Stetson Hatters came into the 2014 Atlantic Softball Championship as the No.3 seed but with the strength of the league this season they knew they'd have there work cut out for them heading in. The Hatters were the only team to defeat the top-seeded USC Upstate Spartans in the conference play.

The Hatters kept their eyes on the championship title as they traveled through the bracket. First FGCU on Wednesday, then No. 2 Lipscomb on Thursday and then Mercer on Friday to earn a spot in the A-sun Championship Final.

"Everyday, every team we played could have beaten us. We managed to pull it out, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday...we kept playing hard," Hatters head coach Frank Griffin said.

The Hatters faced the Bears in the Championship finale as they collected the 1-0 win behind senior pitcher Meredith Owen's complete game shutout with five strikeouts in the championship finale. Owen was named the A-Sun Championship MVP as she scored the winning run for the Hatters after being intentionally walked to lead the seventh inning.

"She's a great player, but truly she's a great individual. Her Leadership on and off the field has been fantastic for us and really makes the difference,"
Griffin said.

Owen has been a force to be reckoned with all season as she currently has 26 wins and 14 home runs. The automatic bid to the NCAA Championship is a great way to top off her senior season.

"It is one of the greatest honors of my life to be named MVP," Owen said "This conference is so hard to compete with day in and day out so to be named the most valuable play is truly an honor."

As Owen led the Hatters they look forward to making their first appearance in the NCAA Championship since 2007.

Owen stated, "It is so wonderful to be heading to the NCAA Championship. These girls are so special and I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else."