Flashes Return Home to Face Northern Illinois in 3-Game Set
4/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Kent State University baseball team hosts Northern Illinois University in a three-game series this weekend (April 6-8) at Schoonover Stadium. The Golden Flashes currently sit in second place in Mid-American Conference East Division, while the Huskies are in a three-way tie for first place in the West. Friday will begin the third of four MAC cross-division series for the Flashes in as many weeks. NIU is 6-7 on the road this season and KSU is 5-2 at home.
Series History
The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series with Northern Illinois,17-12-1. Kent State took two of three games from the Huskies in DeKalb last season. On April 7, 2006, the Flashes needed 16 hits to come away victorious in a 13-10 shootout.
Andrew Davis cracked a bases-loaded single in the fifth inning, while Will Vazquez smashed an RBI triple in the seventh. Closer Ryan Davis earned his fifth save of 2006 and Reid Lamport threw 2.1 innings of relief getting himself out of a seventh-inning jam. Kent State's offense continued to light up the scoreboard with a 21-2 romp the following day. Davis continued his clutch hitting with a two-out, two-RBI base knock in the third. Jason Patton smacked two hits in the blowout. Northern Illinois redeemed itself of the previous day's embarassment by snatching a 5-2 win in the third game, snapping KSU's five-game winning streak. Davis was one of three Flashes to record a hit in the loss. Starting pitcher J.J. Pacella allowed just one run in six innings and retired the first eight batters he faced.
Winter Crushing Cleveland State Pitching
Sophomore infielder
Brad Winter continued his success vs. Cleveland State on Tuesday with a two-run homer and an RBI single. In four career games against the Vikings, Winter is 9-for-18 with three home runs, three doubles, two triples and 14 runs batted in.
Home Success and Road Struggles
After a 5-11 start to its 2007 season, Kent State won five of six games. Part of that success may be due to its return to the friendly confines of Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium after spending the first month of the season (16 games)on the road. The Golden Flashes took two of three games from Western Michigan and claimed victories over Youngstown State, Cleveland State and Pittsburgh during a seven-game homestand. KSU went 14-3 at home during the 2006 regular season and are off to a 5-2 start in 2007. The Flashes are just 4-12 on the road this season.
In KSU's seven home games,
Andrew Davis has hit .360 with three home runs, two doubles and 10 RBI. Also producing during that nine-day span was Greg Rohan, who hit .346 with a homer and six RBI and Brad Winter, who hit .364 with three triples, one round-tripper and seven runs batted in. Sophomore left-hander Alan Morrison logged 10 innings in two home starts, going 1-0 with an ERA of 1.80. Morrison allowed just one hit in five innings vs. Pittsburgh on Mar. 28.
Kent State Rotation
Junior right-hander
Evan Smith will take the mound on Friday to open the series for the Flashes, his sixth start of the 2007 campaign. The junior from Milford, Ohio is 1-2 in seven appearances and has fanned 15 batters in 30.2 innings. Smith has allowed seven earned runs, the lowest of any KSU starter. Smith suffered a loss in his last outing (March 30) at Central Michigan, but tossed four scoreless frames from the second through fifth innings. Smith struck out five, but gave up both runs in a 2-1 defeat for Kent State. Kyle Smith gets the nod for Saturday's game. The freshman right-hander is tied for second on the team in strikeouts (20) and leads the squad in innings pitched (31.2). A native of Louisville, Ohio, Smith tossed 5.2 innings and struck out two against Central Michigan last Saturday. Smith allowed three runs on six hits in a no-decision that Kent State went on to win, 8-4, in the 11th inning. Sunday's starter is yet to be determined.
Northern Illinois Rotation
Junior right-hander
Trevor Feeney opens the series for the Huskies on Friday. Feeney has compiled a 3-2 record in six starts and fanned 26 batters. He went the distance in his last start (March 30) against Akron, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in NIU's 8-3 victory. On Saturday, sophomore southpaw Brandon Copp will make his sixth start of the season. Copp enters the contest with a 2-1 mark and has a 4.03 ERA in 29.0 innings. Despite hosting a career-high five strikeouts, Copp was saddled with the loss on March 31 against Akron, scattering five hits and yielding four earned runs in four innings. Northern Illinois' starter on Sunday will be either junior left-hander Matt Jernstad (2-1, 4.30) or senior Mark Badgley (2-2, 5.84).
As Davis Goes, So Goes The Team
In Kent State's 11 wins,
Andrew Davis is hitting .457 with four home runs, five doubles, 12 runs scored and 15 RBI. In 17 KSU losses Davis has hit .234 with four runs scored.
Quick Flashes From The Bullpen
• The Kent State bullpen went 30 straight innings without allowing an earned run until Central Michigan stopped the streak on Sunday (April 1).
• In his last four outings,
Ryan Davis is 1-0 with two saves in six innngs pitched. He allowed just two hits in those four outings and did not surrender an earned run. Davis (2.25) leads the Flashes with four saves and is currently on the NCBWA "Stopper of the Year" watch List.
• Before Wednesday,
Jon Pokorny went eight straight appearances without allowing an earned run. Pokorny claimed his first collegiate victory Mar. 24 vs. Western Michigan.
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Reid Lamport has allowed just 11 hits in 24 innings of relief. Lamport leads the KSU staff with 22 strikeouts. Prior to the CSU game, he surrendered just one run in 15 consecutive innings.
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Dominique Rodgers has not allowed a run in his last 14.1 innings pitched. Rodgers tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief Saturday vs. Central Michigan.
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Senior Jason Seelman allowed just one earned run in his first nine relief appearances. Seelman carries a 1.26 ERA. In two appearances last week he struck out four and allowed one hit in 3.1 innings.
• Heading into last weekend,
Robert Sabo had gone five straight appearances without allowing an earned run. Sabo earned his first collegiate win Mar. 28 vs. Pitt, after retiring all six batters he faced.
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Chris Carpenter (1.12) has allowed just one earned run in eight innings of relief. On Tuesday, Carpenter tossed two scoreless innings at Cleveland State, struck out three and did not give up a hit.
• In his last 6.2 innings thrown,
Brad Stillings has earned a save, struck out six and allowed two earned runs.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies have won nine of their last 11 games and their 5-1 start in MAC play has been the best in school history. Much of Northern Illinois' success can be credited to being the top hitting team in the conference. NIU's .305 team batting average is 12 points higher than second place Akron's.
Junior outfielder Danny Reed is hitting .384 with three home runs, 19 runs scored and 18 RBI. Senior outfielder Daniel Jewett is batting .389 with 14 runs scored and six stolen bases. Senior infielder Jesse Sekora is the top power threat, hitting .344 with seven home runs, seven doubles and 30 RBI. Scott Simon, Jordin Hood and Pat Minogue are all hitting above .300 as well. Hood has belted four home runs while Simon and Minogue have six doubles each. Sophomore shortstop Bobby Stevens is a perfect 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts and has scored a team-high 29 runs.
Relief pitchers Matt German and Andy Deain have both been outstanding on the mound this season. German, the team's stopper, has allowed just one earned run 20.1 innngs pitched. He is 3-1 with three saves, 26 strikeouts and carries a team best 0.44 ERA. Deain has surrendered one earned run in 16 innings on the hill. He is 2-1 with 10 strikeouts and a 0.56 ERA.
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