Kent State University
Central Michigan
Flashes Begin 2018 Post-season Thursday
5/22/2018 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
Murray named MAC Pitcher of the Year, Duncan Coach of the Year
Flashes Begin 2018 Post-season Thursday
Murray named MAC Pitcher of the Year, Duncan Coach of the Year
KENT, OHIO – Following a tremendous regular season in which Kent State won its third consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season title, KSU pitcher Joey Murray has been named the MAC Pitcher of the Year. Head coach Jeff Duncan was also honored by the league, earning Coach of the Year honors.
It is the second straight year the KSU right-hander has been named the winner. Murray is the Flashes' 12th MAC Pitcher of the Year and the league's first back-to-back winner since Bryan Bullington in 2000-01. This year Murray set the single-season strikeout record for Kent State with a sensational 2018 regular season. He finished with 132 strikeouts and just 31 walks on the season. Murray will start post-season play with an 8-1 record and an ERA of 1.63. The Dublin, Ohio native recorded double-digit strikeout totals in six of his 14 starts. He held the opposition to four hits or fewer in 13 of his 14 starts.
For Duncan, it is the third straight year he has been named the conference's Coach of the Year. He becomes the third three-time winner in school history after Rick Rembielak and Scott Stricklin. The MAC has not had a multiple-year winner of the award since Central Michigan's Dean Kreiner won it four straight years from 1985-88. In the five years Duncan has led the Flashes, the program is 184-93 overall and 91-38 in MAC games. He has led Kent to 95 road wins – at least 21 in each of the last three years. In league play, Duncan's KSU teams are 34-9 in MAC series with 13 sweeps.
KSU was also well-represented on the All-MAC First Team. Outfielders Nick Kanavas and Mason Mamarella earned a spot on the list as well as pitchers Joey Murray and Collin Romel. Tim DalPorto, Greg Lewandoski and Pavin Parks were named to the Second Team and Mamarella was also selected to the All-MAC Defensive Team for his work in centre field.
The Golden Flashes begin the 2018 post-season with a first-round game on Thursday at 2 p.m. in Avon at Spenger Stadium. Kent State is scheduled to face the lowest team to advance in Wednesday's games, meaning the Flashes will meet either Central Michigan, Toledo or Eastern Michigan. KSU is 7-2 against those teams this year.
KSU is attempting to become the first one seed to win the tournament since the Golden Flashes did it in both 2011 and 2012. Under Duncan, the Flashes are 9-6 in MAC Tournament games. With a win Thursday, Kent State advances to Friday's winner's bracket final at 6 p.m.
