Flashes Approach Long-Awaited Rematch with Ball State
4/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Kent State University baseball team travels to Muncie, Ind. this weekend (April 13-15) for a rematch of last season's MAC Tournament Championship round with Ball State University. The Golden Flashes currently sit in second place in the Mid-American Conference East Division at 4-5, while the Cardinals are 3-6 in a very competitive West Division. Friday will begin the fourth and final MAC cross-division series for the Flashes in as many weeks. KSU is 4-12 on the road this season and Ball State is 6-3 at home.
Series History and Coaches
The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series with Ball State 51-41. Kent State took two-of-three regular season games from the Cardinals last season in Kent, but Ball State won both matchups during the 2006 MAC Tournament. The teams have not met in Muncie since 2002. In five games against the Cardinals last season, Chris Tremblay hit .444 (8-for-18) with a double and a triple. Will Vazquez (six hits, two walks) and Andrew Davis (five hits, five walks) each had on-base percentages over .400 against Ball State last year. J.J Pacella went 1-0 with an ERA of 2.19 and nine strikeouts in 12.1 innings against the Cards last season. In three relief appearances, Ryan Davis chalked up a save and did not allow an earned run.
Last season's five meetings began the series between head coaches and former teammates Scott Stricklin and Greg Beals. Stricklin and Beals were both catchers on Kent State's 1991 squad and both went on to play professionally prior to their coaching careers.
Live Audio and Live Stats
All three games can be heard on the web at www.kentstatesports.com via the K-Zone with play-by-play announcer Eric Hills. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes before each game. Live stats can be viewed on Ball State's web site at www.ballstatesports.com.
Kent State Rotation
Junior right-hander Evan Smith will take the mound on Friday to open the series for the Flashes, his seventh start of the 2007 campaign. The Milford, Ohio native has been the most consistent pitcher for KSU this season, but has not received much run support in recent games. Last weekend, Smith allowed just one earned run on five hits in a loss to Northern Illinois. In his last road appearance, Smith gave up two runs over six innings in a loss at Central Michigan. His ERA (2.00) and opponent's batting average (.225) are the lowest among KSU starters and he leads the team with 36 innings pitched.
Kyle Smith
(2-2) gets the nod for Saturday's game. The freshman right-hander has struck out 21 batters and is second on the squad with 32.2 innings pitched. The Louisville, Ohio native tossed just one inning in miserable weather conditions last Saturday vs. Northern Illinois. Smith hurled 5.2 innings and struck out two in his last road game at Central Michigan. He allowed three runs on six hits in a no-decision, helping the Flashes to an eventual 8-4 victory.
Senior J.J. Pacella is slated to take the hill on Sunday. The right-hander from Powell, Ohio allowed just one earned run in two appearances last week, including two scoreless innings at Penn State. During the 2006 regular season, Pacella logged seven innings in a victory over Ball State at Schoonover Stadium. He surrendered just one run on three hits and fanned seven.
Ball State Rotation
The Cardinals will also send three right-handers to mound this weekend. Senior
Ryan DeGeeter opens the series for the Cardinals on Friday. DeGeeter leads the team with four wins and is second on the squad in strikeouts (31). He recently went 6.1 innings Sunday in Ball State's 6-4 win at Ohio. Last season, DeGeeter suffered a regular loss against the Flashes, but went 6.1 frames in Ball State's 5-4, 11-inning victory over KSU at the MAC Tournament.
Junior
Tyler Pritchard will take the hill on Saturday. Pritchard tossed 4.1 innings at Ohio Sunday, giving up six runs on nine hits. Last season, he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits in three innings against the Flashes in a regular season start.
Coming off a stellar performance to start the week, sophomore
Brenden Stines will toe the rubber on Sunday. Stines hurled six scoreless innings Tuesday against Indiana Tech, allowing just two hits. Of the 22 batters he faced, he struck out 12.
Home Success and Road Struggles
The Golden Flashes have knocked off five different opponents (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Cleveland State, Youngstown State) in 10 home games, carrying a record of 6-4. However, KSU is just 4-12 in true road games, having defeated three opponents (Central Michigan, Florida, Louisville). The Kent State pitching staff carries a solid 2.90 ERA at Schoonover Stadium, but outside of Kent, that number rises to 4.68. The Flashes also have more stolen bases and hold a better fielding percentage at home then they do on the road.
Quick Flashes From The Bullpen
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Jason Seelman tossed five scoreless innings of relief to earn his first victory of the year Sunday vs. Northern Illinois. He allowed three hits and no walks, holding the Huskies scoreless from the fourth through eighth innings. On the year, Seelman has allowed just two earned runs in 19.1 innings pitched and leads the team with a 0.93 ERA. He has not surrendered a run in 7.2 innings of conference play.
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Reid Lamport had two scoreless outings in relief against Northern Illinois this past weekend. In four MAC appearances, Lamport has tossed 9.0 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits. He has allowed only 12 hits in 27.1 innings on the year and leads the team with 23 strikeouts.
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Chris Carpenter hurled two scoreless frames last week at Cleveland State. Carpenter has surrendered just one earned run in 8.0 innings pitched this year.
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Ryan Davis had two scoreless outings on the mound this past week, lowering his ERA to 2.16. Davis has not allowed an earned run in his last five appearances. Davis leads the Flashes with four saves and is currently on the NCBWA "Stopper of the Year" Watch List.
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Jon Pokorny has not allowed an earned run in nine of his 11 relief appearances.
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Dominique Rodgers had not allowed a run in 14 straight innings pitched prior to Sunday.
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Robert Sabo is averaging one strikeout per inning in his last 10 outings.
Breakout Game
Redshirt freshman Conor Egan made his first start in a MAC game Sunday in center field. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and his first career RBI.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals dropped six consecutive games before winning their last two. Ball State was swept by Miami and dropped two games at Ohio during the losing skid. The Cardinals lost six position starters and their top starting pitcher from the 2006 MAC Tournament championship squad.
Junior first baseman Matt Stoeklen leads the team in hitting (.301) and has driven in 18 runs. Wayne Bond (.297) and Matt Gard (.283) each have a team high seven doubles, while Jeremy Hazelbaker and Ryan Chenoweth each have a team best four home runs.
Stopper Kyle Heine ranks in the nation's top 10 with eight saves. Heine was a thorn in Flashes' side last season. In four appearances against KSU in 2006, Heine went 1-0 with two saves and eight strikeouts. He allowed one hit in eight innings without giving up a run.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will host a non-conference game with Malone on Tuesday (April 17) before heading to Oxford, Ohio for a three-game series with MAC East leader Miami April 20-22.
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