Kent State Holds On For 9-8 Win Over Niagara
4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio - Kent State jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two and held on for a wild 9-8 win over visiting Niagara. The Golden Flashes improve to 9-13 on the year while the Purple Eagles fall to 10-10.
Junior Greg Rohan led the Kent State offense with hits in all three at-bats, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to score the game's first runs. For the day, Rohan had three RBI and scored a run. Also, junior Brad Winter broke a 7-7 tie in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff home run to right field. On the day, Winter went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Freshman southpaw Kyle Hallock started the game for the Golden Flashes and gave up five runs and five hits in 2.1 innings. Junior Steven Davis got his first win of the year by allowing only one runs on two hits in two innings while senior Reid Lamport earned his second save by pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
Kent State struck first in the bottom of the first with some two-out lightning. With a runner at first, Rohan hit a fly ball that just cleared the fence in center field. It was Rohan's sixth round-tripper of the season.
The Purple Eagles were held scoreless in the top of the second and the Golden Flashes extended the lead to 6-0 in the home half. The four-run inning started with freshman John Lydic's first home run of his collegiate career to center field. After a strikeout, sophomore Jared Humphreys laid a bunt single down the right field line.
After the hit by Humphreys, the wheels fell off for Niagara's starter Michael Keller.
Humphreys would move all the way to third on two stolen bases and junior Ryan Mitchell walked. With runners on the corners, the Golden Flashes were successful on a double steal that sent Mitchell to second and Humphreys scored to make it 4-0. Mitchell then stole third before Winter crushed an RBI double to left-center field. The Golden Flashes extended the lead to 6-0 when Rohan hit an RBI single to right field.
Niagara would quickly answer, scoring six runs in the top of the third. The Purple Eagles loaded the bases with no outs. Hallock got the next batter to strike out, but Frank Kurnik followed with a two-RBI single. Chris Lenndertse followed with an RBI single to right; however, Kurnik on first also scored on the play after a throwing error by KSU's Mitchell.
The Golden Flashes decided to go to the bullpen and brought in freshman lefthander Cory Martin. Niagara immediately tied the game on a two-run home run by Cam Stykmain.
Tied 6-6, the Golden Flashes struck back in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Conor Egan hit a one-out double down the left-field line and scored on an infield single by senior Ryan Tokarz.
After a wild first three-innings, a pitchers battle ensued. Niagara would tie the game at seven with two-straight doubles in the fifth, but KSU's Cory Martin struck out the side to get out of a jam.
Kent State took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth by scoring two runs. Winter led off the inning with a home run to left field. Sophomore Jared Bartholomew doubled and scored on Egan's two-out single to right field.
Niagara added a run in the top of the seventh off KSU's Davis, but Lamport pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning for the save.
Kent State returns to action tomorrow when the travel to Pitt. First pitch against the Panthers is scheduled for 3 p.m.
