Flashes Rock RedHawks, Roll into Title Game

Friday, May 25

Avon, Ohio

6:00

Kent State University

38-16

Miami

34-19

Miami

Kent State

Photo by: Rhett Hutchins

Flashes Rock RedHawks, Roll into Title Game

5/25/2018 9:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Skolnicki’s playoff gem has KSU on brink of pennant

By: Ty Linder

Flashes Rock RedHawks, Roll into Title Game

Skolnicki's playoff gem has KSU on brink of pennant

AVON, OHIO – Kent State is a program rich in history – specifically heroic post-season pitching performances. On Friday night a crafty, colorful lefty added his name to that long list.

Jared Skolnicki tossed eight and two-thirds innings of brilliant work and the KSU hitters backed him up with a seven run, 12-hit effort as the Flashes rolled over MU, 7-2. The Golden Flashes advance to their 10^th Mid-American Conference Tournament title game in the last 13 seasons. They'll attempt to become the first MAC team to win the regular and post-season titles since their predecessors did it in 2012.

The path to the title tilt took the Golden Flashes through Miami's Gus Graham – a senior right-hander, who up until Friday had not lost a game in 2018. Graham stymied the Flashes' hitters just six days ago in Oxford, but head coach Jeff Duncan and his staff made the adjustment and the offense responded.

KSU scored the game's first run in the first when Pete Schuler singled with two outs. But the Flashes blew things up in the fourth when they hit around. Greg Lewandoski, Nick Kanavas and Mason Mamarella all drove in runs in the four-run frame to give the regular season champs a commanding 5-0 lead.

As it turns out, it was enough for the sensational Skolnicki. He struck out eight and didn't walk a single batter. He carried a shutout into the ninth before giving way to Austin Havekost, who finished it. It was Skolnicki's second playoff masterpiece in his Kent State career, after the southpaw eliminated Toledo a year ago in a similar performance.

KSU added to the lead with single tallies in the fifth and seventh. A day after beating Central Michigan for the 10th straight time in post-season play, the Flashes added Miami to the same list, knocking off the RedHawks for a 10th straight time in playoff action. Two of Kent's last three tournament titles have come against either CMU or MU.

Miami will play Central Michigan in an elimination game Saturday at 12:30 with the winner advancing to play KSU in the championship contest at 6 p.m. If a second title game is necessary, it is scheduled for Sunday at noon.