Kent State Unable to Contain Ball State's Power in 16-5 Defeat

Friday, May 9

Muncie, IN

3:00 PM

Kent State University

30-18, 0

Ball State University

33-16, 0

KENTST

Ball State

Photo by: David Dermer

Kent State Unable to Contain Ball State's Power in 16-5 Defeat

5/9/2014 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – Kent State (30-18, 14-8) permitted five homeruns off of Ball State (33-16, 17-4) bats in the series-opener on Friday, allowing the Cardinals to power their way to a 16-5 win.

With warm temperatures and the wind vehemently blowing out, the game became a power-fest by the first inning.

Jon Wilson started things with a leadoff base hit before Zarley Zalewski came up with a homerun to right for an early 2-0 lead for the Flashes.

Ball State was able to answer back quickly with a leadoff homer, a walk and then a two-run shot to give them a 3-2 lead through one.

It remained that way until the Cardinals smacked another homerun, this time with two on, to up their lead to 6-2.

The Golden Flashes were quick to answer when Justin Wagler led off the 6^th with a double and made his way home on a base hit by T.J. Sutton.

However, Ball State continued to use the long ball with a three-run shot in the bottom of the 6^th and a grand slam in the 8^th to cruise to a 16-5 victory.

Kent State's final two runs came in the 7^th on a sacrifice fly by Wagler and a RBI single by Cody Koch.

Wilson finished the day 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot. Zalewski led the team with two RBI.

Eric Lauer dropped to 7-3 on the year with the loss. He went 4.1 innings in the start with five hits, five runs, four walks and three strikeouts. Dan Kopcak, Tim Faix and John Fasola all allowed at least two hits and two runs in relief.

The two teams return to action in a 1:00pm game on Saturday.