Flashes Pick Up Win in First MAC Contest, 6-5

Friday, March 24

Muncie, IN

3:00 PM

Kent State University

13-6, 1-0

Ball State University

11-11, 0-1

Kent State

Ball State

Flashes Pick Up Win in First MAC Contest, 6-5

3/24/2017 7:46:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – Kent State (13-6, 1-0) started off Mid-American Conference play with a 6-5 win over Ball State (11-11, 0-1) in a Friday showdown of the two division favorites.

The Cardinals were able to get off to a 3-0 start after the 1^st inning. They singled and had a hit batter before a three-run homer put them ahead. However, Eli Kraus then settled in and finished with a strong start. After the 1^st inning the lefty hurler did not allow a base runner until there were two outs in the 5^th. In the 6^th, he had some great defensive help as a fly ball to left was caught by Luke Burch who then made a fantastic throw to third base to snag the runner trying to tag up and advance for an unorthodox double play. Kraus would finish the day with the win in 7.0 innings with three runs, six hits, no walks and seven strikeouts.

Kent State was able to get on the board in the 2^nd, starting with an unusual string of events. Josh Hollander led off the inning with a single. The left fielder threw the ball in way wide of the infielders that gave Hollander the opportunity to slide into second. He then started the run to third when no one was covering the bag and an errant throw to the fence allowed him to scamper home. The Flashes added another in the inning when John Matthews singled, advanced on a passed ball and ground out, and then came home on an error.

Down 3-2, the Golden Flashes took the lead with a two-run 4^th. Tim DalPorto tied the game on a solo shot down the left field line. Dom Iero singled later on and scored on a double by Reilly Hawkins.

Some insurance runs were added in the 8^th and 9^th when Dylan Rosa hit a solo homerun. Then in the final inning, Iero walked, Hollander singled and Matthews walked to load the bases. Burch picked up an RBI with a base hit.

The Cardinals would add two more runs to their total in the 9^th, but Zach Spangler would hang on and earn his fifth save of the season. Patrick Dayton filled in the other 1.1 innings of the night with one hit, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.

Burch had a 2-for-5 day while the bottom of the lineup (Hollander, Hawkins and Matthews) all also had two hits each.

The second game of the series is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.