Wilson's Walk-Off Saves Split with Zips

Friday, May 16

12:00 PM

Kent State University

30-21, 14-11

University of Akron

25-26, 12-13

Akron

Kent State

5/16/2014 10:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, Ohio – In the first day-night doubleheader in Schoonover Stadium history, both Kent State and Akron would come away with a win, with the home team capping off the day with a walk-off in game two.

"These guys have been going through a lot, but we create our own luck," Head Coach Jeff Duncan said. "We didn't play great baseball today…but overall I'm happy, especially with some of the guys that have really stepped up."

The Golden Flashes enter the final game of the regular season on Sunday with a 31-21 record and 15-11 in conference while Akron sits at 25-27 and 12-14.

Game one appeared to be a pitcher's duel from the onset until Akron broke open a three-run lead in the 3^rd, thanks in part to two unearned runs that came because of an error. Kent State tallied its first run in the bottom of the same inning on a Curtis Olvey single and Jon Wilson triple.

The Zips got the run back on a solo homerun in the 4^th before the Golden Flashes had another response with a three-run 4^th inning to tie the game. Zarley Zalewski singled and came home on a T.J. Sutton double before Olvey cleared the bases and touched them all on the first homerun of his young career.

However, a three-run 5^th inning from Akron and another score in the 7^th gave the Zips the lead for good. Kent State did score two in the 7^th and had a chance in the 9^th. After scoring to make it a 8-7 game on a Justin Wagler single, the Golden Flashes had runners on the corners with one out, but a double play closed out the series-opening loss.

"We came up a little bit short in a one-run game," Head Coach Jeff Duncan said. "We had a chance to win that ballgame in the 9^th and they made the play to win the game.

Eric Lauer went 4.1 innings in the start with six hits, five earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts. Dan Kopcak and John Fasola both pitched 1.1 innings of shutout baseball; Fasola did not allow a hit or walk while striking out two in his second consecutive dominant outing.

Kent State's bottom three hitters in the lineup (Olvey, Zach Beckner and Troy Summers) all had two hits each in the first game. Wilson also had a two-hit game.

Game two had more dramatics in the 9^th, this time falling the Flashes way as Wilson came up with the big hit to capitalize on a walk-off win.

After a pregame ceremony to rededicate Rollins Way and a on-field recognition of returning members of the 1964 Kent State baseball team, Kent State took the lead with three runs in the 3^rd inning. The runs all came on one big swing, as Cody Koch went yard to score Beckner and Sutton who had singled and walked in the inning.

As game one had gone, Akron had an answer with three runs of its own to tie things in the 4^th. The Golden Flashes grabbed the lead back on a Zalewski single with bases loaded in the 5^th, but the Zips knotted things even again with an unearned run in the 9^th.

In the bottom of the inning, it was time for some Kent State magic. The first two batters of the inning were given free passes on a full-count walk and a hit by pitch before another batter was hit later on to load the bases with one out. Wilson then slapped a single into left center to score the winning run and even the rivalry series.

Nick Jensen-Clagg had a quality start with eight hits, three runs, no walks and five strikeouts in six innings. Andy Ravel was sharp in relief, allowing two hits and one runs with one walk and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Eric Dorsch entered the game in the 9^th to do his job and shut down the Zips for the win when they were threatening.

"I'm really happy for Eric Dorsch," Duncan said. "He's had a really tough time here these last few weeks and he really got a big out for us when we needed it with the bases loaded in a tie game in the 9^th inning. I'm really happy for him."

Zalewski was the only Kent State hitter to come up with two hits in game two, one being for a double. Koch led the way with three RBI.

"We have an opportunity to win a series tomorrow and create some momentum going into the MAC Tournament," said Duncan.

The Golden Flashes' final home game and the final game of the regular season is set for Saturday at 6:00pm. The team's seven seniors will be honored on the field pregame. The MAC Tournament will begin next Wednesday at All-Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio. Kent State had already clinched a spot heading into the final series. The PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge point will also be up for grabs in Saturday's game.