Klafczynski, Campbell Power No. 25 Kent State Baseball To MAC Tournament First-Round Win Over Bowling Green
5/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio -- The Kent State baseball team built an early lead and never looked back, winning its 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament first-round game, 6-2, over Bowling Green today (May 25) at VA Memorial Stadium.
Ranked No. 25 in the nation according to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the Golden Flashes (40-14) reached the 40-victory mark for the second time in the last three years and eighth time in program history. Kent State has won 31 of its last 36 games and six MAC Tournament games in a row dating back to the 2010 season.
Junior left-handed starting pitcher and First Team All-MAC selection David Starn (Hudson, Ohio) fanned four over 7.1 innings of work to improve to 8-2 on the season. His four strikeouts up his season total to 103, which ties former Flash and current Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Matt Guerrier's total in 1999 for the second-most in a single season in program history. He surrendered two earned runs on six hits. Senior right-handed reliever Justin Gill (Canton, Ohio) tossed a perfect eighth inning, and junior right-handed closer Kyle McMillen (North Canton, Ohio) worked through a bases-loaded jam with the tying run at the plate by inducing a game-ending 5-4-3 double play in the ninth to record his 17th save of the season, increasing his nation-leading and single-season record total.
"It was huge to get that little cushion early in the game," said Starn. "I tried to keep them off balance and let my defense work,"
Senior right fielder and First Team All-MAC selection Ben Klafczynski (Granger Township, Ohio) and sophomore center fielder Evan Campbell (Beloit, Ohio) led the way with three hits apiece. Junior third baseman Travis Shaw (Washington Court House, Ohio) contributed two to Kent State' cause.
"Benny and Evan had great days," said seventh-year head coach and MAC Coach of the Year Scott Stricklin. "We had some clutch hits to give us a little bit of a cushion. The middle of our order picked us up today."
Bowling Green took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior third baseman Frank Berry cracked a leadoff double to left and scored one out later on an RBI single up the middle by sophomore second baseman Matthew Pitzulo.
The Flashes struck back with a four-spot in the home half of the frame. Campbell got things started with a leadoff base hit to right. Junior shortstop Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.) followed it up by drawing a walk. Klafczynski drove in Kent State's first runs by plating Campbell and Rider with a two-RBI single to right. After Klafczynski stole second, junior catcher David Lyon (Emporium, Pa.) coaxed a walk. That set the stage for a bases-clearing triple to right by sophomore designated hitter Jason Bagoly (Austintown, Ohio) to make it 4-1 in favor of the Flashes.
The Falcons cut Kent State's lead in half in the third when junior shortstop Jon Berti cracked a double to left center and scored on a base hit to left center by Pitzulo.
Kent State tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth. Shaw put a two-out single into left, and Klafczynski drove him in by stroking a double off the left field wall. Lyon  plated Klafczynski with a two bagger to right.
Senior southpaw starter Matt Malewitz suffered the pitching defeat for the Falcons (20-30), allowing four earned runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out one. Berti, Pitzulo and senior first baseman Clay Duncan all posted two hits to lead Bowling Green's offense.
The No. 1-seeded Golden Flashes will square off with No. 5-seeded Eastern Michigan Thursday (May 26) in a 4 p.m. winners bracket matchup. Kent State swept its three-game series against the Eagles April 8-10 and faced off against Eastern Michigan three times in last season's conference tournament, winning two of three. Senior lefty and MAC Pitcher of the Year Kyle Hallock (Sandusky, Ohio) makes the start on the mound for the Flashes.
