Winning Streak Hits Nine As Kent State Baseball Slugs Way To Sweep Of Eastern Michigan
4/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio -- Junior catcher David Lyon (Emporium, Pa.) and third baseman Travis Shaw (Washington Court House, Ohio) each smashed solo home runs to right field as the Kent State baseball slugged its way to an 8-5 win over Eastern Michigan today (April 10) in a Mid-American Conference game at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.
A large, sun-soaked crowd watched as the Golden Flashes (20-10, 8-1 MAC) piled up 13 hits and five players finished with multi-hit games as Kent State ran its win streak to nine straight overall and seven conference wins in a row to maintain its hold on the top spot in the quest for the overall conference crown. The sweep of the Eagles (18-13, 5-4 MAC) marked Kent State's second straight over a MAC West Division foe.
"Today was big," said Shaw. "We wanted to come out here and get the sweep and assert ourselves as the dominant team in this conference. From the bottom to the top, we did a great job offensively."
Lyon collected three hits in the win to lead Kent State, while Shaw, junior shortstop Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.), freshman left fielder T.J. Sutton (Uniontown, Ohio) and sophomore first baseman George Roberts (Summerhill, Pa.) all posted two apiece.
"Our entire lineup had really good at-bats, one through nine," said seventh-year head coach Scott Stricklin. "Everybody contributed, and it was a good team win."
Junior left-handed starting pitcher David Starn (Hudson, Ohio) worked 6.1 frames and struck out five to up his record to a team-best 5-1. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. Sophomore righty Casey Wilson (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) tossed 2.1 innings and fanned one, and junior right-handed closer Kyle McMillen (North Canton, Ohio) got the final out of the ninth to earn his eighth save of the season. McMillen now stands alone for the third most saves in school history with 12.
"David didn't have his best stuff today but still only gave up two runs," said Stricklin. "He really battled and competed, and he did a great job."
Eastern Michigan landed the first punch of the game in the top of the first when senior right fielder Ken Battiston led off with a double to left and later scored on a sacrifice fly to left by senior second baseman Zack Leonard.
The Flashes knotted the contest at one-all in the bottom of the second as senior right fielder Ben Klafczynski (Granger Township, Ohio) coaxed a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a single to right by Lyon, then tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by sophomore designated hitter Jason Bagoly (Austintown, Ohio).
Kent State broke the tie in the fourth with two runs. Lyon smashed a leadoff solo shot to right. Roberts singled up the middle two outs later, then scored courtesy of a throwing error by the Eagles.
The Flashes tallied single runs in both the fifth and sixth. Shaw sent a laser over the right-field fence in the fifth to make it 4-1 in favor of Kent State. Sutton hit a one-out single to left, advanced to third on an infield single to second by Roberts, then scored on a passed ball in the sixth.
The Eagles cut into Kent State's lead when junior shortstop Tucker Rubino hit a solo homer to left to open the seventh, but Kent State expanded its advantage to 7-2 in the bottom half when Lyon placed a two-out base hit into center, then scored on a double to right by sophomore pinch hitter Evan Campbell (Beloit, Ohio). Sutton singled Campbell home with a hit to right.
Kent State plated its eighth run in the eighth when redshirt junior Joe Koch (Youngstown, Ohio) reached on an error by the Eagles, then scored on a single to second by Rider.
Wilson got the first two outs of the ninth, but an error led to three unearned runs by Eastern Michigan and brought McMillen into the game to seal the win. Rider made a spectacular defensive play deep in the hole at short to end the game on a force at second.
Eastern Michigan sophomore right-handed starting pitcher Steve Weber was saddled with the pitching defeat for the Eagles, allowing three runs – two of them earned – on five hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. Battiston and Rubino led the offensive effort for the Eagles with three hits apiece.
Kent State takes on Youngstown State in a home-and-home series Tuesday (April 12) at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium and Wednesday (April 13) in Youngstown, Ohio. The Flashes then return to conference action with a three-game road trip at Central Michigan next weekend (April 15-17).
