Kent State Baseball Continues To Roll With Diamond Classic Win Over Akron
5/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Golden Flashes run win streak to 11 straight in front of record-setting crowd at Canal Park.
AKRON, Ohio – In front of a record-setting crowd, the Kent State baseball team beat Akron, 6-1, Thursday (May 17) at Canal Park in the Sixth Annual Diamond Classic For Kids to open a three-game Mid-American Conference weekend between the East Division rivals.
With the triumph over the Zips (17-36, 10-15 MAC), the 2012 MAC champion Golden Flashes (35-17, 22-3 MAC) have won 26 of their last 33 games – including 15 of their last 17 and 11 in a row. Kent State has won 35 games for the 17th time in program history – including for the sixth time under eighth-year head coach Scott Stricklin and fifth season in a row. Kent State's 22 conference victories are the most since former head coach Danny Hall's 1993 squad achieved the feat.
"We're playing good baseball right now," said Stricklin. "We're playing good defense, our pitching has been outstanding and we're getting clutch hits. We took advantage of their mistakes, and that's what good teams do. We're trying to focus on playing good baseball and keeping our momentum."
The Golden Flashes improved to 4-2 in the Diamond Classic, posting their third straight win in the annual event that benefits Akron Children's Hospital in front of a record-breaking crowd 1,310.
"It was a great night for Akron Children's Hospital," said Stricklin. "The people at the hospital did a great job of promoting this event, and it's a good rivalry game between two good teams."
Senior southpaw ace David Starn (Hudson, Ohio) dominated on the mound to improve to 8-3 on the season and 26-7 for his career, which ties him with Pat Bangston (1984-87) for the most pitching wins in program history. He fanned nine over six innings while giving up just one earned run on three hits and two walks. Kent State's career strikeouts leader, Starn improved his career strikeout total to 324.
Akron struck first with a run in the top of the third inning, but the damage could have been worse, as Starn worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam. Sophomore right fielder Darius Washington hit a leadoff double to right center for the Zips, then advanced to third on a base hit to left by junior center fielder Jared Turocy. Sophomore second baseman Tyler Begun filled the bases for Akron by drawing a walk. Freshman shortstop Matt Rembielak bumped Washington home one out later by coaxing a walk. That's all the Zips got out of it, though, as Starn forced senior third baseman Sam Watkins to fly out to left and struck out sophomore catcher Brady Stewart.
"David lost his focus there for a little bit and had a couple walks, which is uncharacteristic of him," said Stricklin. "What is characteristic of him is fighting back and getting out of jams. To get out of there with holding them to one run was important."
Akron's lead was short lived as Kent State fired back with two runs in the home half of the third. Junior center fielder Evan Campbell (Beloit, Ohio) drew a one-out walk, and senior catcher David Lyon (Emporium, Pa.) joined him on the base paths when he reached on a fielding error by Rembielak one out later. That set the table for junior first baseman George Roberts (Summerhill, Pa.) to send a two-RBI double down the right field line and give Kent State the lead.
Starn settled in over the next three frames and only allowed one more base runner to advance past first.
Kent State extended its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth as freshman left fielder Alex Miklos (Grove City, Pa.) hit a one-out single through the left side, stole second and scored one out later on a base hit to left by senior shortstop and MAC all-time hits king Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.).
The Flashes tacked on their fourth run in the seventh when redshirt junior third baseman Nick Hamilton (Avon Lake, Ohio) cracked a one-out base hit to left, scampered to third on a wild pitch and crossed home plate courtesy of a single to center by sophomore right fielder T.J. Sutton (Uniontown, Ohio).
Kent State took advantage of two more Akron errors in the eighth inning to seal the victory. Sophomore second baseman Derek Toadvine (Springfield, Ohio) beat out an infield single, then headed for second on a throwing error by Watkins. Toadvine stole third one out later, then scored on a fielder's choice that put Rider on. Rider moved to second on the play on a fielding error by Stewart. Roberts made it 6-1 one out later by driving in Rider with a single back up the middle.
Senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Mace (Tallmadge, Ohio) tossed three scoreless innings in relief of Starn and earned his fourth save of the season.
Senior right-handed starting pitcher Andrew Brown was tagged with the pitching defeat for Akron, falling to 6-8 on the season. He surrendered three runs – one earned – on five hits and six walks. Brown struck out four in 5.2 innings of work.
Kent State takes aim at its fifth straight MAC series win and eighth of season to close out the 2012 campaign as it hosts Akron Friday (May 18) at 3 p.m. at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium. Junior right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Bores (Strongsville, Ohio) will start on the hill for the Golden Flashes and is scheduled to oppose Akron freshman left-handed starter Pat Dyer.
