Flashes Steal One from Wright State, 8-5
4/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio--
Burriss also stole a career-high three bases as the Golden Flashes (18-12) swiped nine bases on the afternoon in picking up their second straight win and third in four games at home this season. The Flashes small ball attack was vastly different than in the teams last game, a 20-6 victory at Marshall University in which KSU belted five home runs.
"One of the things that Ive wanted for us to do is to run and take the extra base," said first-year head coach Scott Stricklin. "We had some opportunities to run today and we took advantage of them. Youre not going to steal nine bases every game, just like youre not going to hit five runs every game."
Wright State took a 1-0 lead in the second on a single by Brendan Rubenstein. Kent State answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning with senior OF Chuck Moore (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) drawing a lead-off walk and coming around to score on a groundout by classmate Eric Holick (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake).
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Kent State plated three runs in the frame to take the lead. Burriss scored on a throwing error to tie the game and catcher Will Vazquez (Berea, Ohio/Berea) delivered the go-ahead runs with a two-out, two-run single.
The Flashes added another run in the sixth with Burriss driving in Holick from second base with a single up the middle to make the score 5-2. Wright State cut the deficit by a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Travis Migliorini.
The Raiders tied the game in the eighth on a two-run homer by Amin Abusaleh, a drive to left field that just cleared the fence over the outstretched glove of Moore.
With runners on second and third and no one out in the eighth, Burriss squared to bunt before pulling the bat back and slapping a base hit up the middle past the drawn-in infield, scoring freshman Michael Obyc (Powell, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) from second to put KSU ahead 6-5. Drew Saylor (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth/Cincinnati) followed with a sacrifice fly that plated two runs after an errant throw by centerfielder Justin Eilson.
"I squared to bunt, but saw the infield coming way in," Burriss said. "Coach (Stricklin) and I have talked about that and worked on that in practice and I just tried to slap the ball through (the infield)."
"I think the way we rallied that inning after they tied it was important," Stricklin added. "They had gained some momentum and we took it right back."
Jason Seelman (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) picked up the win to improve to 2-1 despite allowing the tying home run by Abusaleh in the eighth. Sophomore closer Andrew Davis (Chillicothe, Ohio/Zanes Trace) pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
Sophomore starter J.J. Pacella (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy) scattered six hits in five innings of work. He allowed two runs-one earned- while walking just one and striking out five.
The Flashes continue their seven-game homestand at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 13, when they host regional foe Cleveland State University.
GAME NOTES: Burriss four hits are a career-high... in addition to the three steals by Burriss, Davis and Joe Tucker (Canton, Ohio/Central Catholic) each stole two bases... Davis was 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to seven straight while Burriss has a hit in five straight games... Tucker was 0-for-4, snapping his 10-game hitting streak... Kent State has won four straight against Wright State, improving to 21-9 all-time in the series.
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