Duncan Picks up First Career Win in Offensive Onslaught

Saturday, February 15

Tucson, AZ

8:00 PM

Kent State University

1-1

University of Arizona

1-1

Kent State

Arizona

Duncan Picks up First Career Win in Offensive Onslaught

2/16/2014 12:44:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – First-year Head Coach Jeff Duncan recorded his first career win in a big way, as the Kent State (1-1) bats ignited a 14-5 victory over Arizona (1-1) on Saturday night (Feb. 15) with the help of a solid pitching performance and steady defense.

"We made Arizona earn their runs," said Head Coach Jeff Duncan, "and that was the difference in the game."

The Golden Flashes erupted to an 11-run first inning, starting with a leadoff single by Sawyer Polen, a hit batter and a base hit by Alex Miklos to load the bases. Both Polen and Justin Wagler scored the first two runs on a single by Zarley Zalewski. Cody Koch followed with a single of his own to pick up a RBI before bases became juiced again when Curtis Olvey was plunked by a pitch. A sacrifice fly by T.J. Sutton made it 3-0 before Tommy Monnot smoked a double on the second pitch he saw to score another.

After a pitching change, the onslaught continued with a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt that moved Monnot to third and scored Olvey. Polen came to the plate again to get his second hit in the inning on a RBI single. Zalewski joined the club later with his second base hit of the frame, scoring two. Not to be left out, Koch hit another RBI single and Olvey joined the hit parade with a base knock to round out an 11-run first.

"Our offense set the tone in that top of the first," Duncan said. "We strung together 11-straight quality at-bats."

Arizona threatened in the bottom of the first and second innings, putting runners on the corners with one out, but starter Nick Jensen-Clagg was able to limit the damage to just one run through the opening three frames.

"Nick Jensen-Clagg got out of a few jams and did a great job," said Duncan. "He's a competitior."

Kent State made it a dozen in the run column in the third when Koch singled to score Wagler, who led off the inning with a base hit.

The Golden Flashes also added a run in the 6^th and 7^th on an error and RBI single. The Wildcats were able to tack on runs in the 4^th and 5^th and two in the 8^th, but the hole was too deep to climb out of.

Koch had an impressive 5-for-5 night with three RBI and a walk. Polen and Miklos both finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored. Zalewski led the team with four RBI in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

Jensen-Clagg did his job in the start, lasting 4.2 innings with three runs, eight hits, three walks and four strikeouts.

Eric Lauer impressed in his collegiate debut and picked up his first career win, throwing 2.2 innings with one hit, one run, one walk and one strikeout.

"Eric Lauer had absolutely legit stuff tonight," Duncan said. "He was 91-92 and threw strikes. He was very sharp."

Andy Ravel also stepped foot on the mound for his first time, finishing the last 1.2 innings with three hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts.

The rubber match between Kent State and Arizona is set for Sunday (Feb. 16) with a 2:00pm EST first pitch.