Flashes Rally Through 11 Innings for First Win of 2016

Friday, February 26

Winter Haven, FL

11:00 AM

Kent State University

1-3

George Washington University

2-3

Kent State

George Washington

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Rally Through 11 Innings for First Win of 2016

2/26/2016 4:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – It took two rallies late in the game for Kent State (1-3) to earn its first victory of the 2016 season in an 11-inning, 6-4 victory over George Washington (2-3) on Friday to begin the RussMatt Invitational.

The Colonials scored first in the 3^rd with an unearned run on a fielding error, single and sacrifice bunt. They made it a 2-0 game in the 6^th after a walk and base hit scored another.

The Golden Flashes were non-compliant in taking a defeat, answering late with a three-run 9^th to take the lead. The frame started with a double by Conner Simonetti and single by Dom Iero. Dylan Rosa sent them both home during the next at-bat with a double to center field to tie the game. The third run came in when Luke Burch had an RBI base hit to score Rosa.

George Washington wasn't ready to be defeated either, though, as they tied the game in the bottom of the 9^th after a hit batter scored following a sacrifice bunt and a single to left.

The 11^th inning was gift-wrapped for Kent State to send them to the victory. It all began with a full-count walk to Pete Schuler. He then made it safely to second on a failed pickoff by the Colonials' pitcher. Burch was then intentionally walked followed by another base on balls to Jacob Neuschaefer to load the bases for Zarley Zalewski. Zalewski just had to put the ball in play and got some help, as a throwing error allowed all three base runners to come home and Zalewski to land on second, putting the Flashes ahead 6-3.

The home team tried to rally again in the 9^th with one run on a pair of base hits, but it was all they could muster as they left a runner on second to end the game.

The Golden Flashes racked up 11 hits and committed one error while the opposition had nine hits with four errors in the contest. Zalewski was 3-for-5 in the effort with a walk. Alex Miklos, Simonetti, and Rosa all had a two-hit day while Rosa led the team with two RBI.

Eric Lauer threw a nice start to be handed the no decision. He went 5.2 innings with one earned run, five hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. Tim Faix followed him and faced one batter before Zach Spangler entered the game to go 3.1 innings with one run, two hits and two strikeouts. Zach Willeman earned the win by pitching the 10^th and 11^th with one runs, two hits, one walk and two strikeouts. He needed just seven pitches in his first frame to hand some momentum to the offense.

Kent State is back at it with a double header on Saturday. They will take on Ball State in a non-conference game at 11 a.m. and then play George Washington again at 2:30 p.m.