Kent State University
Northern Illinois University
Flashes Blast Past Huskies 16-4
4/3/2015 9:09:00 PM | Baseball
DEKALB, Ill. – Kent State (15-11, 4-3) erupted for 16 runs off 18 hits Friday night in a series-opening, statement-making win at Northern Illinois (13-15, 4-3) as it beat the Huskies 16-4.
Luke Burch singled on the third pitch thrown in the game and the Golden Flashes' offense took off from there without a stop. Zach Beckner followed with a full-count walk and both were brought home on a Tommy Monnot double to grab an early 2-0 lead.
Northern Illinois did tie the game at two in the 2nd on a double and a few base hits, but a four-run 3rd put the Flashes in front for good. In the frame, Beckner sent the first pitch of the inning over the left field wall for his first homerun this season. A Conner Simonetti double later in the inning scored two while Jeff Revesz followed with a RBI single.
The middle innings fell silent until a two-run Northern Illinois 6th. But again, Kent State answered back quickly with three runs of its own. Monnot was hit by a pitch and Curtis Olvey was walked before Simonetti slugged his fourth homerun of the season, this one leaving the park out of left field to make it a 9-4 game.
Not to be outdone, the Golden Flashes tacked on seven more runs in the 8th inning. After a pitching change, Beckner reached on a passed ball and was able to score during the next at-bat when Sawyer Polen singled and an error advanced the runners. Another error in the next at-bat added Zalewski to the bases. Monnot then doubled again for another RBI on the day. Another Huskie mistake, this time a wild pitch, scored Monnot later in the inning with two outs. Revesz then joined Simonetti as the team leader in homeruns with his fourth of the season. Luca Fuscardo then picked up a base hit before another pitcher was brought into the game. Burch touched him up for a double and Tim DalPorto hit a two-RBI single on a pinch-hit appearance to end the Flashes' damage at 16 runs.
Kent State's hurlers combined for a nice outing with the luxury of run-support. Nick Jensen-Clagg earned his fifth win of the season in 5.2 innings with eight hits, three earned runs, three walks and seven strikeouts. Dan Kopcak struck out four in 1.1 innings while also allowing two hits. Eli Martin finished the game, throwing 2.0 shutout, hitless innings with two walks and a strikeout.
Monnot was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three doubles, three RBI and three runs scored. Burch and Simonetti both finished 3-for-6 with two runs.
The series continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. EST contest.
