Baseball Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, February 27

Winter Haven, FL

11:00 AM

Kent State University

2-3

Ball State University

2-4

Kent State

Ball State

Photo by: David Dermer

2/27/2016 6:11:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Kent State's pitching staff put on strong performances all day long while Luke Burch was 7-for-9 at the plate with six RBI as the Golden Flashes took two at the RussMatt Invitational on Saturday. They beat Ball State 8-3 in game one then took down George Washington 7-4.

Game One: Kent State 8, Ball State 3

Kent State left a runner on second in the 1st and Ball State left the bases loaded in the bottom of the initial frame when starter Eli Kraus worked out of a jam with his second strikeout. The Golden Flashes threatened again in the 2^nd, leaving two on after consecutive base hits.

In the bottom of the 2^nd, the Cardinals broke through with one run. They walked and singled then a double scored one. The inning ending when a runner was out at home trying to score on the same double. Kraus then sat them down in order in the 3^rd with two strikeouts and an infield groundout. Ball State had bases loaded again in the 4^th, but Kraus continued to control the game by striking out his fifth batter of the day and getting two flyouts.

Kraus went on to silence another threat in the 5^th as he struck out the last two batters of the inning, leaving two Cardinal runners on base.

The Flashes got in front with two runs to start the 6^th. Jacob Neuschaefer put down a bunt single and scored on a double by Zarley Zalewski. Dylan Rosa followed with a double down the left field line to score Zalewski and take a 2-1 lead.

The game became tied in the bottom of the inning when Ball State scored after a walk, stolen base and base hit. But that tie was quickly broken in the top of the 7^th. Zach Beckner reached second base on an error and advanced to third to be in position to score when Burch came to the plate and hit a single to right field.

Kent State's lead extended to 8-2 in the 8th with a big five-run frame. Alex Miklos started the inning with a single and Zalewski followed with another base hit. Conner Simonetti joined the hit parade with a double to center to pick up a RBI. After a pitching change, Tim DalPorto walked and he and Simonetti advanced a base on a wild pitch that scored Zalewski. Beckner then flew out for an RBI sacrifice. Following yet another pitching change in the frame, Sam Hurt walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Burch earned himself two more RBI with another base hit to make it 8-2.

Ball State was able to tack a run on in the bottom of the 9^th on some base hits, but could not break the deficit as the Flashes won 8-3.

Kraus put together a very strong effort, striking out seven through 5.0 innings with one run, six hits and four walks. Eli Martin followed with one earned run allowed through 3.2 innings with four hits, one walks and four strikeouts to earn the win. Tim Faix closed out the game by getting the final out.

Burch was 2-for-4 with three RBI out of the leadoff spot. Miklos and Zalewski also finished with two hits each.

Game Two: Kent State 7, George Washington 4

Scoring started in the 3^rd inning as Kent State took a lead that they would not relinquish. They scored when Beckner singled and then came home on a Burch RBI base hit.

The Golden Flashes then broke the game open with a four-run 4^th. Simonetti singled and Rosa walked before Pete Schuler batted a run home. Beckner then came up with another big hit with a single to score two. Burch stayed hot later in the frame with yet another base hit and RBI for himself.

The lead grew to 6-0 in the 5^th when Miklos put down a bunt base hit, Mason Mamarella came in to run in his place and scored on a Rosa single.

It wasn't until the 7^th inning that George Washington was able to get a run across. They scored three in the frame on some singles and wild pitches. The Colonials plated their fourth run of the contest in the 8^th on a bases loaded walk.

But the Flashes grew their advantage once again when they replied with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning as the Beckner-Burch combination struck again, both grabbing base hits.

Andy Ravel earned himself the win, throwing 6.2 innings with three runs, six hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Aaron Tadian followed in relief with 0.1 innings with one run, two hits and one strikeout. Freshman Joey Murray continued to impress, earning his first collegiate save by pitching the last two innings. He did not allow a run or hit and although he walked three, he got all six of his outs via the strikeout.

Offensively, Burch was a perfect 5-for-5 with three RBI. Beckner finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Kent State ends its stint at the RussMatt Invitational on Sunday when they face Milwaukee at 11 a.m.