Home Opener Spoiled in 9-4 Defeat

Wednesday, March 16

Kent, OH

6:00 PM

Kent State University

10-4

University of Pittsburgh

8-6

Pittsburgh

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

3/16/2016 10:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The 2016 home opener was spoiled for Kent State (10-4) as the team dropped a 9-4 decision to visiting Pittsburgh (8-6) on Wednesday night.

The scoring got started in the 3^rd as the Panthers were able to post three runs to take a lead they would not relinquish on the night. Back-to-back singles and a double scored the first two and a solo homerun accounted for the third.

The Golden Flashes answered with one in the bottom of the inning as Josh Hollander singled and was driven home on a Mason Mamarella double.

Unfortunately Pittsburgh was able to score two runs in each of next three innings to leave Schoonover Stadium with the win. Kent State made it a 5-4 game in the 4^th inning with three runs but could not answer back the rest of the game. In the frame, Zarley Zalewski led off with a walk before Dylan Rosa and Conner Simonetti hit back-to-back bombs to make close the deficit temporarily to one run.

Connor Wollersheim suffered the loss, throwing 2.1 innings in the start with five hits, three runs, three walks and two strikeouts. John Schreiber followed, making his collegiate debut, with two runs, three hits and two strikeouts in 1.0 inning. Patrick Dayton and Chris Martin each let up and earned run before Joey Murray, Zach Spangler and Aaron Tadian provided the final three shutout innings. Murray struck out four batters in 2.1 innings to bring his season total up to 12 in 5.1 innings.

Offensively, Mamarella picked up two of the team's eight hits while Rosa led with two RBI.

Kent State travels to Liberty this weekend for a four-game series. All of the weekend's games will be aired live on ESPN3.