No. 30 Kent State Baseball Sweeps Non-Conference Doubleheader Over Xavier
5/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State baseball team swept its non-conference doubleheader over Xavier today (May 10) at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.
Ranked No. 30 in the nation by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the Golden Flashes (34-13) shut the Musketeers (25-23) out, 3-0, in the first game, then rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning in game two to pull out a 3-2 victory. Both contests were seven-inning games.
"It was an exciting win," said seventh-year head coach Scott Stricklin said of the second game. "Offensively, we didn't play very well all day, but when you get two wins like that against a quality team, it is still a big accomplishment."
Kent State has won 25 of its last 29 games and improved to 15-2 at home this season. The Golden Flashes swept the season series against the Musketeers, 3-0.
Junior third baseman Travis Shaw (Washington Court House, Ohio) led the way with four hits over two games – including a home run in the first contest and the game winning RBI double in the second.
KENT STATE 3, XAVIER 0
Senior right-handed starting pitcher Brennen Glass (Springfield, Ohio) tossed a four-frame no-hitter and struck out two to improve to 4-1 on the season while junior right-handed closer Kyle McMillen (North Canton, Ohio) shut down the Musketeers in the seventh thanks in large part to two strikeouts to earn his 15th save of 2011, which ties Dan Adams (1999) for the Kent State single season record and leads the Mid-American Conference. McMillen's 18 career saves rank fourth in Kent State.
Kent State took the early lead when Shaw blasted a two-out home run over the center field fence – his team-leading 12th round tripper of the 2011 campaign – in the bottom of the first.
Xavier threatened in the fifth by loading the bases, but senior right-handed reliever Justin Gill (Canton, Ohio) helped force a not-so-conventional 4-1-3 double play to extinguish the scoring opportunity.
The Flashes extended their advantage to three runs in the sixth when senior right fielder Ben Klafczynski (Granger Township, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice to set the stage for a two-run missile over the right field fence by junior catcher David Lyon (Emporium, Pa.). Lyon has hit safely in 16 of the last 18 games and is hitting .420 with 10 extra-base hits – including four home runs -- and a .710 slugging percentage.
Kent State 3, Xavier 2
The Flashes won the second game with a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the seventh.
With the home team trailing 2-1, sophomore center fielder Evan Campbell (Beloit, Ohio) drew a one-out walk to get the rally started. Freshman second baseman Derek Toadvine (Springfield, Ohio) moved him to second with a nice bunt down the third base line. Redshirt junior left fielder Joe Koch (Youngstown, Ohio) coaxed a walk to put two men on. Junior shortstop Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.) tied the game with a single to left. That set the stage for Shaw's game winning two bagger to center to score Koch and pull out the victory.
"It was huge," said Shaw of the game-winning hit. "We're trying to get to 40 wins, so every game is important at this time of the year. We were very sluggish for most of the second game, but we came alive in the seventh, and I was able to deliver."
Kent State plated the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first when Shaw reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a double to right by Klafczynski, but Xavier plated two in the second and maintained the advantage until Kent State's last chance to bat in the seventh.
Junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Mace (Tallmadge, Ohio) came out of the bullpen and pitched a perfect top of the seventh for Kent State and was credited with the pitching win to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The Golden Flashes return to conference play this weekend (May 13-15) for a three-game MAC East Division series at Bowling Green.
