Flashes Dominate Huskies to Go Up 2-0 in Series
4/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dekalb, Ill. - Kent State (16-10, 6-2 MAC) was not playing football but it did put up 21 runs on the scoreboard Saturday afternoon (Apr. 8) in a blowout win over Northern Illinois at McKinzie Field. The 21-2 victory marked the highest run total of the season for the Golden Flashes, while their 17 hits was business as usual.
The Huskies (12-16, 4-4) committed eight errors and several other mistakes in the field, giving second opportunities to a Kent State offense that has been relentless over the past two weeks. The Golden Flashes have scored 13 or more runs and have ripped 14 or more hits in five consecutive games. KSU also matched its longest winning streak of the season at five games and has won eight of its last nine.
Shortstop Emmanuel Burriss (Washington, D.C./Wilson) created the games first run by himself in the opening inning. Burriss put a single through the right side of the infield, stole both second and third base and scored on a throwing error.
Third baseman Andrew Davis (Chillicothe/Zane Trace) continued his clutch hitting in the third with a two-out single that scored two of six runs in the inning. Freshman second baseman Chris Tremblay (Cranberry, Pa./Lakewood) belted a triple to right-center field to drive in the final two runs of the third as KSU took a seven run lead.
The Golden Flashes added two more runs in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Husky first baseman Matt Simon hit the games only home run in the bottom of the inning to put NIU on the board. It was also the first hit off of KSU starter Steve Ross (Wadsworth/Hoban).
The Flashes put up three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings and led 15-2 after eight. Numerous NIU fielding blunders led to six more runs in the ninth.
Ross (3-3) recorded his second victory in as many starts. The sophomore tossed seven innings and allowed two runs on just three hits. Ross struck out two and did not allow a walk.
Burriss finished 4-for-5 with a walk, two RBI and a game-high four runs scored. He stole a pair of bases and owns a league-leading 14 swipes on the season. Tremblay went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.
MAC East Hitter of the Week Drew Saylor (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) extended his hitting streak to 10 games going 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Davis smacked two hits including a triple and drove in four runs for the second straight day.
Freshman DH Jason Patton (Massillon, Ohio/Perry) recorded his fourth straight two-hit game. Backup freshman catcher Adam Whiting (Kent, Ohio/Walsh) registered his first collegiate hit and run batted in.
Husky starter Trevor Feeney, who was 2-0 in MAC games entering Saturday, allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in four innings pitched. He was the first of eight NIU pitchers on the day.
Jon Miller (Louisville, Ky./Univ. of Illinois) and Phil Bojc (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) each threw one scoreless inning in relief. KSU has now smacked 14 or more hits in 12 of its last 23 games and 11 or more hits in 16 of those 23 games.
The Golden Flashes will look for their first conference sweep Sunday (Apr. 9) at McKinzie Field. Junior J.J. Pacella (Powell, Olentangy) will take the mound for the Flashes with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CST).
