Kent State Baseball’s Bats Roar To Life To Even Weekend Series At Lipscomb
Five Flashes Post-Multi-Hit Games To Help Kent State (3-2) Roll Past The Bison (4-2).
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Kent State baseball team responded to a tough-one run loss the previous day with an explosive offensive display, rolling to a 16-3 triumph over host Lipscomb Saturday (Feb. 25) in non-conference action at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen L. Marsh Stadium.
After being unable to take advantage of base runners in scoring position in a 2-1 loss Friday (Feb. 24) the Golden Flashes (3-2) made the Bison (4-2) pay to the tune of a season-high 16 runs on 12 hits as five Kent State student-athletes finished the contest with multi-hit games to even series at one-game apiece.
Senior co-captain and starting catcher David Lyon (Emporium, Pa.) finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle and drove in four runs. Junior center fielder Evan Campbell (Beloit, Ohio) collected two doubles and four RBIs while redshirt sophomore right fielder Troy Summers (Minerva, Ohio) smacked a double and a single, scored four runs and drove in another. Freshman third baseman Sawyer Polen (Wooster, Ohio) tallied two singles, scored three runs and drove in another, and freshman designated hitter Tommy Monnot (Canton, Ohio) posted two base hits and scored two runs.
Junior right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Bores (Strongsville, Ohio) and senior righty Ryan Mace (Tallmadge, Ohio) combined to limit Lipscomb to three runs on seven hits. Bores went five innings en route to earning the mound victory and evening his record at 1-1. He fanned three and allowed two runs – only one of which was earned – on five hits and a walk. Mace tossed the last four frames, tallying four strikeouts and surrendering one unearned run on two hits.
Kent State tallied single scores in the first and second innings to grab an early lead. Campbell coaxed a one-out walk, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored when Lyon cracked a base hit through the left side in the first. Summers scored Kent State's second run in the second after being hit by a pitch, moving to second when Polen was hit by a pitch, stole third and then scored on a throwing error.
Lipscomb got a run back in the fourth when junior center fielder Zach Lowery led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on an error. He scored one out later when freshman first baseman Griffin Moore singled to left center.
The Flashes answered right back with two more scores in the top of the fifth. Freshman left fielder Alex Miklos (Grove City, Pa.) got things started when he reached on a throwing error, then advanced to second on a wild pitch one out later. Rider drew a walk one out later, setting the stage for Lyon to rip a two-RBI triple to center.
Lipscomb cut its deficit in half again when junior right fielder Lee Wilson was hit by a pitch with two outs, moved up to second when senior left fielder M.L. Williams singled to left and then scored courtesy of a single to right center by Lowery.
Kent State responded again by blowing the contest open with a six-run sixth inning. Monnot smacked a leadoff single through the right side. Summers followed by drawing a walk. Polen then cracked a base hit up the middle to plate Monnot. Miklos reached on a fielding error after laying down a sacrifice bunt to move both Summers and Polen up 90 feet to fill the bases with Flashes. Summers and Polen both scored when sophomore second baseman Derek Toadvine (Springfield, Ohio) reached on a throwing error. Toadvine stole second, setting the stage for Campbell to double to right to plate both he and Miklos. Campbell advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored one out later when Lyon doubled to left center to up Kent State's advantage to 10-2.
The Flashes made it 12-2 with two more scores in the seventh. Summers led off the inning with an infield single. Polen followed by smacking a base hit to left. Summers and Polen then successfully executed a double steal to put runners in scoring position. Both scored when Miklos smashed his first career triple into right center.
Lipscomb plated its third and final run in the bottom of the frame, but Kent State sealed its victory with four more runs in the eighth. Freshman catcher Jeff Revesz (Grove City, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a single to left by Monnot. Summers doubled to left center to bring around Revesz. Polen drew a walk to load the bases, and Toadvine followed one out later by coaxing a base on balls to bump home Monnot. Campbell made the score final when he hit his second RBI double to center to bring home Summers and Polen.
Lipscomb junior left-handed starting pitcher Blake Fonfara was tagged with the pitching defeat. He gave up four unearned runs on two hits and three walks in 4.2 frames. He struck out five.
Kent State goes for the series win over Lipscomb Sunday (Feb. 26). First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT). Sophomore righty Tyler Skulina (Strongsville, Ohio) will get the start for the Golden Flashes and will oppose Lipscomb's redshirt junior right hander Josh Cotham.
