Baseball Swept By Toledo In Twinbill
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In game one, Kent State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Andrew Davis (Fr., Chillicothe, Ohio/Zane Trace) one-out single to left scored Todd Balduf (So., Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) from second to make the score 1-0. Emmannuel Burriss (Washington, D.C./Wilson) then put the Flashes up 2-0 when he advanced home as Davis was thrown out attempting to steal second base.
After Kent State extended its lead to 3-0, Toledo exploded in the top of the fifth, scoring six runs to take a 6-3 lead. Dan Stong got the Rockets on the board first when his single drove home Ryan Laude from third. Sean Dobson then followed with a single through the left side of the infield to score two more. The back breaker then came when Shawn Hurst hit a three-run homer off KSU starter Jason Brunke (Jr., Carroll Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) to left-center field to cap off the big inning for the Rockets.
Brunke (2-3) took the loss for Kent State, scattering nine hits and six runs to go with four Ks in 4.1 innings. J.R. Duffey (2-3) picked up the win for Toledo, going 8.1 innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and four strikeouts.
Game two was a pitchers dual between Kent States Justin Laraway (So., Toledo, Ohio/Start) and Toledos Nick Szczur. Both pitchers were magnificent as Laraway went 7.0 innings, giving up just three hits and no runs while striking out 10. Szczur went 8.0 innings, striking out eight and giving up five hits.
The play of the game, however, came in the top of the tenth when Dobson smacked a sharp single to left-center off KSU reliever Phil Bojc (So., Euclid, Ohio/Euclid), scoring Jarrod Resendez from second for the games only run.
Both teams had their scoring chances during the game, but excellent pitching and solid defense on both sides forced the Rockets and Flashes to play an extra frame.
It was a total lack of offense, head coach Rick Rembielak said. No aggressiveness, swinging at bat pitches and taking good pitches. It was very disappointing offensively .... these are the series that you want to win at home. Its different now with the three-game sets so you cant even a series up. Its make or break. Its winning a series or losing a series. To start off the MAC off 1-2 is not a good start. We have lacked consistency offensively. From the beginning of the season until now, we cant seem to string two games together. We just have to keep plugging at it and work our way out of it.
The Flashes will be back in action this week when they play host to the University of Findlay Tuesday, March 30 at 3 p.m. The Flashes will then hit the road the following day when they travel to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 31.
