Baseball Splits MAC-Opening Doubleheader With Toledo

Friday, March 21

Kent, Ohio

2:30 PM

Kent State University

10-8, 1-0

University of Toledo

7-11, 0-1

Toledo

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Baseball Splits MAC-Opening Doubleheader With Toledo

3/21/2014 8:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, Ohio – Kent State (10-9, 1-1 MAC) began conference play with a doubleheader split at home against Toledo (8-11, 1-1 MAC) on Friday (Mar. 21).

Kent State took game one by a score of 4-1 before dropping the second 5-4 in the 9^th inning.

"We just didn't play well enough in that second game," said Head Coach Jeff Duncan. "We had opportunities to win that game. We didn't play well enough all-together."

The Golden Flashes got out to an early lead in game one with a two-run first inning thanks to a hit by pitch, double by Alex Miklos and sacrifice fly by Justin Wagler before Cody Koch hit a RBI base hit.

Koch grabbed the team's other two RBI in the 3^rd inning on a double, scoring Wagler, who had also doubled, and Zalewski who reached on a walk.

The Kent State pitching had a strong showing in the game, starting with Eric Lauer who earned his fifth win of the season after throwing 5.1 innings with two hits, no runs, three walks and seven strikeouts. John Birkbeck followed him with 1.2 innings of easy relief, throwing just ten pitches. John Fasola and Eric Dorsch each pitched one inning to close out the game, with Dorsch earning the save in the 9^th, his fourth this season.

Zalewski continued to be a menace at the plate, going 2-for-3 in the opening game with a walk. Koch excelled in a perfect 3-for-3 game with three RBI, a walk and a double. Miklos and Wagler both had two hits in the win.

"I thought we played really well offensively and defensively," Duncan said. "Eric Lauer has had better starts but he battled through it."

The second game was a bit of a different story, as Toledo was able to get a 2-0 lead before Koch had the big bat again, smacking a two-run homerun over the left field wall.

The Golden Flashes then took a two-run lead in the 6^th off a Tommy Monnot double down the left field line. Zalewski and Koch both scored on the play after reaching on back-to-back base hits.

The Rockets, however, would not go away quietly, as they tied the game at four in the 7^th before scoring the deciding run in the 9^th inning to escape with the win.

Nick Jensen-Clagg threw 6.1 innings in the start with seven hits, three runs, one walk and seven strikeouts. Eric Dorsch suffered the loss in the final inning, allowing two hits and the deciding run.
Zalewski stayed hot at the plate, posting a 3-for-5 performance in the second game. Koch followed suit by going 2-for-3 with a homerun, two RBI and a walk.

"Zarley and Cody both did a great job in both those games," said Duncan. "It was fun to watch."

The rubber match with Toledo is scheduled for Saturday (Mar. 22) with a 1:00pm first pitch.