KSU stunned in ninth by Huskies
4/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
DeKALB, Ill. - Kent State suffered its most agonizing, frustrating loss Saturday at McKinzie Field, falling for the second straight day to Northern Illinois.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, and a runner at third with two down, Jeff Thomas tried to check his swing on a pitch outside. Jonathan Pokorny's pitch caught part of the bat and went rolling down the third base line parallel to the line. Brett Weibley made a fine grab and throw which easily beat Thomas at first. However, Brad Winter couldn't keep his foot on the bag and pinch runner Anthony Maziur touched home plate with the winning run. The inning started on a little cue shot off the end of Brian Smith's bat that snuck past Reid Lamport for an infield single.
It is arguably the toughest luck loss a pitcher could receive as Lamport was virtually unhittable in his three innings. Taking over for starter Chris Carpenter - who was just as good - Lamport struck out the first five he faced. His five punchouts combined with Carpenter's 11 to bring the total to 16 KSU pitching strikeouts on the day. Carpenter went the first six allowing just one earned run and three hits.
The Flashes started the game off well. Chris Tremblay walked and Doug Sanders rifled a single to center to put runners at the corners with no one out. However, an Anthony Gallas strikeout would follow for out number one. Then, just as quickly as the threat began, it was over as Greg Rohan banged into a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play and the Flashes came up empty.
In the top of the ninth, the Flashes pinch hit Jared Bartholomew who promptly singled to start the inning. A wild pitch advanced him to second, and Weibley moved him to third with a bunt. As the go-ahead run, Bartholomew watched as Cory Hindel struck out and then Jared Humphreys grounded out to end the threat.
Kent State's runs came in the third and sixth. Singles by Tremblay and Sanders - as well as a right field error - produced what was then the tying run. In the sixth, Tremblay singled again and was bunted to second by Sanders. He moved to third on a ground out, and with two outs, Rohan hit a one-hop rocket off the chest of NIU third baseman Jordin Hood. The ball caromed away and Kent State tied the game at two.
Northern Illinois scored in the first on a walk and double. The unearned run came un the fourth as Danny Reed singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out.
Kent State, still in search of its first MAC win, sends Kyle Smith to the hill in Sunday's finale.
