It's A Long Way To The Top If Ya Wanna Rock And Roll
5/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - There is just no words to describe what Kent State just accomplished. And they did it with this simple line from an AC/DC song as its rallying cry.
With their backs against the wall after an opening game loss on Wednesday, the Golden Flashes went on a tear and won five games in three days to win the 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament title. In Saturday's sixth and deciding game, the Golden Flashes jumped out to a five-run lead and held on for the 5-3 win over the Central Michigan Chippewas.
"The thing I told the team after the loss was that I wasn't ready to see our seniors play their last game," said head coach Scott Stricklin. "We repeated that throughout. We didn't want to see Anthony Gallas, Cory Hindel and Jared Humphreys play their last game. That's what we talked about and that's what we did."
Kyle Hallock completed the rare pitching double, getting the win in both games of championship Saturday to improve to 8-5 on the year.
"Kyle Hallock was unreal," said head coach Stricklin about his junior southpaw. "For him to do that, to come in and get the win in the first game and pitch into the eighth inning in the second game, you can't ask for anything more. We were hoping for four or five innings out of him. What he gave us was unbelievable.
"He is a tough kid and a competitor. He had something to prove after the first outing on Wednesday. I am really proud of the way he pitched."
Hallock, after throwing the 10th inning to pick up the win in game one against Eastern Michigan, threw seven innings and gave up only five hits and two runs while striking out six. Junior Justin Gill, who pitched the final 1.2 innings, picked up his team leading fifth save of the year, allowing only a hit and a walk.
From the plate, fifth-year senior Jared Humphreys went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Senior Anthony Gallas had no hits in three at-bats, but scored a run and contributed a sacrifice fly.
Sophomore Travis Shaw went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
For Central Michigan, Jesse Hernandez took the loss and fell to 8-3 on the year, allowing six hits and three runs in 3.2 innings pitched. Dale Cornstubble led the Chippewas with a 2-for-4 day with a run scored and an RBI.
Both teams failed to score in the first two innings, but Kent State notched a pair in the top of the third. With one down, Humphreys reached on a bunt down the third-base line and advanced to third on junior Ben Klafczynski's 27th double of the season. A Gallas sacrifice fly and an RBI single by sophomore Jimmy Rider put Kent State up 2-0.
Another double in the top of the fourth plated another Kent State run. Sophomore David Lyon doubled down the right field line to begin the inning. After a fielding error by the CMU defense advanced Lyon to third, a ground out by fifth-year senior Cory Hindel put Kent State up 3-0.
Hallock was able to keep Central Michigan off the board with crucial pitches at crucial moments. In the fifth, the first two Chippewa batters reached and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but a ground ball back to Hallock and a strikeout retired the side. In the sixth, two singles wrapped around a fly out put a pair of runners on with one down. Hallock one again persevered with a ground out and a fly out.
Kent State added some much-needed cushion in the top of the seventh. Humphreys reached to leadoff the frame and advanced to second on a ground ball. Gallas was then intentionally walked and Shaw provided a big base hit with an RBI single to left field. After a fly out, a two-out RBI base hit by sophomore Kyle McMillen put Kent State up 5-0.
In the bottom of the eighth, Central Michigan came crawling back and actually had the tying runs in scoring position. After Hallock walked the first two batters, McMillen came in the game in relief. He was able to get the first batter to strikeout, but an RBI single by Cornstubble and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Scott Phillion singled to move everyone up 90 feet and draw CMU within three, but Gill came in and got a pair of ground balls that scored a run but kept Kent State on top, 5-3.
Central Michigan put the first two on again in the bottom of the ninth, but Gill didn't flinch. James Teas hit a little flare that was caught by Rider at short, who just ran to the bag with Matt Faiman caught in no-man's land between second and third. A 6-4 fielder's choice ended the ballgame and gave Kent State its second-consecutive MAC tournament title by a 5-3 score in the championship game.
After the game, four Flashes were named to the 2010 All-MAC Tournament team: Humphreys, Klafczynski and Shaw with Gill picking up MVP honors.
Despite no KSU starting pitchers on the all-tournament team, the quarter of redshirt junior Robert Sabo, junior Kyle Hallock and sophomores Ryan Mace and David Starn were a major reason Kent State clawed out of the loser's bracket, according to Stricklin.
"When we fell down into that side of the bracket, we needed the starting pitching to step up," Stricklin said. "We got that right down the line with Robert Sabo, David Starn, Ryan Mace and Kyle Hallock in consecutive games. It was unbelievable. Early in the game, we found ways to get it done. Justin Gill was our rock out of the bullpen but so many kids contributed and got the job done."
Kent State will find out where it will be headed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament Monday afternoon (May 31) at 12:30 p.m. with the brackets unveiled live on ESPN. The Golden Flashes will have a selection show celebration at the Water Street Tavern in downtown Kent beginning at noon.
