There was never any doubt that it was going to end. It was simply a matter of how.

The Temple University baseball team entered the 2014 season knowing it would be the last in the program's 87-year history following the Dec. 6, 2013, announcement that the university would be cutting seven intercollegiate sports, one of which was baseball.Undaunted, the Owls pressed on.Despite losing several key players before the season to transfers, Temple managed impressive victories over nationally ranked Louisville and Houston during its first year in the newly formed American Athletic Conference.The Owls finished the regular season sixth in the AAC standings, good enough to qualify them for postseason play in Clearwater, Florida, something that seemed highly unlikely at the beginning of the year.After dropping the first two games of the conference tournament to eventual champion Houston and runner-up UCF, respectively, it became clear that Temple's final game would be on May 24 against UCONN.What followed was a 9-4 victory for the Owls, highlighted by a 17-hit outburst; the most since a season-opening win against Rider.The winning pitcher in that game was a captain, a fifth-year senior and a player who helped the team navigate a season unlike any other.Lehighton graduate Ryan Kuehn pitched five solid innings in the final game of his career, giving up only one earned run on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts."It was an awesome experience," Kuehn said. "I tried to not think of the magnitude of the game beforehand I just wanted to get a win."But walking off after the fifth inning, with the crowd cheering and being able to shake my coach's (Ryan Wheeler) hand, was incredible. I just tried to enjoy the moment."But that moment was never a sure thing for Kuehn, who started his career with Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in the fall of 2009.After his injury, Kuehn started his career by coming out of the bullpen, posting a 1.86 ERA in five relief appearances in 2011. The 6-7 right-hander increased his workload in 2012, making a total of 15 appearances.2013 was a breakout year for Kuehn, who posted a 2.21 ERA in 16 appearances, notching five saves, tying him for fourth all-time at Temple for the most in a season.But as 2014 unfolded and the Owls attempted to deal with the significant departures of numerous key players, it became clear that Kuehn's role would need to change. And the opportunity that presented itself was one he had always hoped for."Going into college, I always wanted to be a starter on the weekend," Kuehn said of the role typically reserved for a team's top pitchers. "And during my (redshirt) sophomore year, I made a list of goals and taped them to my bathroom mirror. I wanted to win a conference championship, do well academically and earn a starting job."Kuehn got his chance on March 23 against then No. 3 Memphis on the first weekend of conference play and responded with 4 innings three-hit ball, allowing only one earned run in a game Temple won 4-3."The fact that my coach had trust in me in that situation meant everything," Kuehn said.While Kuehn enjoyed arguably his best season on the mound, going 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 appearances, he also wrapped up yet another tremendous year academically.For the second consecutive season, Kuehn was named to Temple's president's list for having a GPA of 3.50 or higher, in addition to earning All-Big 5 Academic Team honors and an American Athletic Conference Honor Roll nomination following the 2014 season.While Kuehn was quick to thank his coach for his accomplishments on the field, he was keen to recognize those that helped him excel in the classroom."My parents helped me keep my head in it, reminding me that baseball wasn't forever," he said. "I realized that I had a great opportunity to get a good education at a good school. It was always grades first, then baseball."But when the focus was on baseball, it was Kuehn and the other upperclassmen, those who had made a commitment to the school and the team that kept everything together."Given the hand we were dealt, we could have easily packed it in and said, 'Oh well,'" Kuehn said. "But every single guy on this team did the opposite."Regardless of our final record, I think we did something special this season. It was never just one guy. It took all of us to do what we did this year."And that bond, however hard to describe, is one Kuehn will take with him long after his final pitch."The feeling of playing together was indescribable," he said.