Baseball Takes Rubber Match with Middle Tennessee State

Sunday, March 2

Murfreesboro, TN

2:00 PM

Kent State University

7-3

Middle Tennessee State University

4-6

Kent State

Middle Tennessee

Baseball Takes Rubber Match with Middle Tennessee State

3/2/2014 5:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Kent State (7-3) held off Middle Tennessee State (4-6) late in the game on Sunday (Mar. 2) to take the rubber match of the weekend series by a score of 6-5.

The Golden Flashes scored at least one run in the first three opening frames. In the first, Sawyer Polen led off with a four-pitch walk and stole second before coming home on a Zarley Zalewski double. They scored two in the 2^nd after Tommy Monnot doubled and Zach Beckner was hit by a pitch to put two on base. Another double, this time by Troy Summers, allowed Monnot to score and Beckner then came home on a ground out.

Kent State's fourth run came in the 3^rd on a RBI base hit by Beckner that scored Cody Koch, who had reached on a single earlier in the inning.

The game remained a 4-2 Kent State advantage until the 6^th inning when Middle Tennessee added a run on to its total with a solo homerun. The Golden Flashes answered right back with a run in the top of the 7^th with an Alex Miklos double and RBI single by T.J. Sutton.

With bases loaded in the 8^th, Kent State added on some insurance with a walk by Miklos. However, the Golden Flashes left runners stranded after a strike out and ground out to end the frame.

For the second day in a row, Middle Tennessee threatened late with a two-run 8^th inning. But, with bases loaded for the Blue Raiders, Michael Clark got a strikeout swinging on three pitches to control the damage.

Andy Ravel (1-0) came in relief of starter John Birkbeck to earn his first collegiate win. The freshman went 3.2 innings with two hits, one earned run and three strikeouts. Clark earned his first save in 1.2 innings of work, allowing one hit and two walks with one strikeout.

The Golden Flashes collected 12 hits on the day with four doubles. Sutton led the offensive charge in a 3-for-5 performance with a RBI. Monnot and Beckner both finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Kent State travels to Liberty next weekend for a four-game series beginning on Friday (Mar. 7) at 3:00pm.