Clarks Pitch Flashes to 6-2 Victory

Saturday, March 22

Kent, Ohio

1:00 PM

Kent State University

11-9, 2-1

University of Toledo

7-12, 1-2

Toledo

Kent State

3/22/2014 4:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – A combined effort of starter Brian Clark and reliever Michael Clark on the mound did not give up an earned run in Kent State's 6-2 victory over Toledo on Saturday (Mar. 22).

The win clinched the Golden Flashes' first conference series win of the season and improved their record to 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference and 11-9 overall.

"I really liked the way our guys responded today after that second game last night," said Head Coach Jeff Duncan. "I thought we played really good baseball. I thought the energy, the attitude was really good."

Brian Clark went 6.2 strong innings in his best start of the season. He allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out four.

"Brian Clark came out today and set the tone," Duncan said. "That's the best start he's had all year in my opinion. He commanded the strike zone."

Michael Clark entered the game with a runner on third and struck out the batter to end the Toledo damage in the 7^th inning. He finished with 2.1 innings of work giving up two hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts. His final pitch coerced a double play ball to end the game.

Toledo's only runs of the day came after a fielding error by Kent State that would have been the third out of the 7^th inning; the Rocket's two runs came on a base hit after that, both unearned.

Kent State's offense helped out by getting on the board early. Two runs came in the first inning after Jon Wilson and Alex Miklos led off with back-to-back base hits before Zarley Zalewski doubled them home.

The Golden Flashes added another run in the 2^nd on a RBI double by Sawyer Polen. Their fourth run of the day came in the 3^rd. Justin Wagler walked, advanced all the way to third after a passed ball and wild pitch, then scored on a balk.

In the 5^th, Alex Miklos stroked a solo shot to left field to make it a 5-0 game. Kent State's final run came in the 8^th on some more Toledo miscues. Cody Koch reached on a fielder's choice then eventually came home on a throwing error by the third baseman that would have ended the inning.

Miklos ended the day 2-for-4 with a homerun and a RBI. Zalewski led with two RBI on the day.

"Our offense did a really good job, especially in those first five innings, putting pressure on their defense and making their pitcher work," said Duncan.

Kent State will host Oakland at 3:00pm on Tuesday (Mar. 25) before hitting the road for the remainder of the week. Conference play continues next weekend when the team travels to Eastern Michigan for a three-game set.