Kent State University
26-19, 0
University at Buffalo
13-28, 0
Late-Inning Rally Boosts Flashes to Series Win at Buffalo in 13-7 Victory
5/3/2015 4:13:00 PM | Baseball
AMHERST, N.Y. – Kent State (26-19, 13-8) powered out 11 runs in the final two innings on Sunday afternoon to win the game and series at Buffalo (13-28, 6-15) by a final score of 13-7.
"I'm really proud of the guys and the way they handled themselves in the 8th and 9th innings, they don't quit," said Head Coach Jeff Duncan. "You have to play all nine innings."
The game would go back-and-forth until the big innings starting when the Bulls leadoff batter doubled, stole third and came home on a sacrifice fly as the home team took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st.
But, the Golden Flashes answered back with a two-run 4th to get ahead. Sawyer Polen doubled a scored in the next at-bat when Zarley Zalewski singled to tie the game. Zalewski then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, making it easy to come home on a nice sacrifice bunt by Jeff Revesz.
However, Buffalo scored a run in each of the next three innings to take a 4-2 lead. Conner Simonetti then scorched a ball over the right field wall in the 8th after Zach Beckner walked and Polen was hit by a pitch to put the Flashes back in front by a score of 5-4.
Down by one, Buffalo put a runner on second in the 8th, but Josh Pierce ended the threat with a strikeout and flyout to send the game to the 9th.
In the final frame, Kent State decided to break the lead wide open. Reilly Hawkins singled and advanced on a balk then Rosa doubled, Beckner reached on an error, Polen doubled and Zalewski cleared the bases with a homerun to make it a 10-4 Flashes' lead. But it didn't stop there: Tommy Monnot then singled and Simonetti reached on another Buffalo error for Revesz to join the hit parade with a three-run shot to left field to put the score at 13-4.
The Bulls got three runs back in the 9th, all unearned after a two-out error, to make the game final at 13-7.
Ravel did not get a decision after throwing six innings in the start with five hits, three runs and three strikeouts. Dan Kopcak earned the win after going 1.1 innings with one hit, one run, one walk and two strikeouts. Pierce got the save after 1.2 innings with two hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Rosa, Polen, Zalewski and Hawkins all had two hits in the game. The Golden Flashes totaled 11 hits on the day with five for extra bases.
"Offensively, four guys with a mutli-hit game, that's what we need to continue to have success," Duncan said.
Kent State will return to action next weekend in the final home series at Schoonover Stadium when Bowling Green visits for three games.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kopcak, Dan (1-0)
L: Kaelin (1-3)
S: Pierce, Josh (4)
Batting:
2B: Polen, Sawyer 2
HR: Zalewski, Zarley 1 ; Simonetti, Conner 1 ; Revesz, Jeff 1
RBI: Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Polen, Sawyer 1 ; Zalewski, Zarley 3 ; Simonetti, Conner 3 ; Revesz, Jeff 4
SH: Revesz, Jeff 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Beckner, Zach 2 ; Polen, Sawyer 3 ; Zalewski, Zarley 2 ; Monnot, Tommy 1 ; Simonetti, Conner 2 ; Revesz, Jeff 1 ; Hawkins, Reilly 1
SB: Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Beckner, Zach 2 ; Polen, Sawyer 4 ; Zalewski, Zarley 1 ; Monnot, Tommy 1
CS: Rosa, Dylan 1
HBP: Polen, Sawyer 1
Batting:
2B: Sinay 1 ; Sobieraski 1
HR: Dudek 1 ; Sobieraski 1
RBI: Sinay 1 ; Dudek 2 ; Sheppard 1 ; Kwitzer 1 ; Sobieraski 1 ; Gonzalez 1
SH: Sheppard 1 ; Machi 1
SF: Sheppard 1 ; Kwitzer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sinay 2 ; Dudek 1 ; Sheppard 1 ; Sobieraski 3
SB: Sinay 1 ; Sheppard 1
HBP: Mallaro 1
