Kent State University
0, 0
Central Michigan University
0-18, 0-1
Simonetti's Eight RBI Lead Kent State to 17-5 Win to Start MAC Season
3/25/2016 7:29:00 PM | Baseball
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kent State's (15-5, 1-0) offense ignited for 17 runs off 18 hits, including an eight RBI day from Conner Simonetti, as it opened Mid-American Conference play with a 17-5 victory over Central Michigan (4-18, 0-1).
Eight of the team's 18 hits were for extra bases in the form of six doubles and two homeruns; both long balls came from Simonetti's bat.
It didn't take long for the Golden Flashes to cause some damage as they posted four runs in the 1st, all on two outs. Zarley Zalewski doubled down the right field line and Dylan Rosa followed with a walk. Simonetti then grabbed his first two RBI of the day on a double to left center. After Alex Miklos walked, Tim Dalporto singled Simonetti home and Sam Hurt singled DalPorto in.
They tacked on two more in the next inning on a Dylan Rosa walk and a Simonetti shot to right center to make it a 6-0 game early on.
Action quieted down in the middle innings before Kent State's bats started heating up once again. A three-run 7th frame put the game out of reach as Zalewski singled, Rosa doubled and Simonetti picked up another RBI on a sacrifice fly. DalPorto and Hurt both doubled to earn a RBI each.
The biggest inning for the Golden Flashes came in the 9th inning as they scored an impressive eight runs. Alec Alvarez led off the frame in a pinch-hit appearance, singled, then made his way to third on a fielding error. Pete Schuer and Hurt both walked to load the bases with no outs. Mason Mamarella and Reilly Hawkins hit back-to-back RBI base hits to put the Flashes' runs in double digits. Later on, Zalewski was hit by a pitch with bases loaded before Rosa scored two more on a single. Simonetti smacked his second homer of the day, a three-run shot, to round out Kent State's scoring.
Central Michigan wasn't able to break through until they scored two in the 8th on a pair of walks and a pair of doubles. They added three more runs in the 9th on two singles and a three-run blast, but it was too little, too late for the Chippewas.
Eric Lauer had another solid start as he did not allow a run and gave up just two hits while walking four and striking out 11 in 5.2 innings. Joey Murray followed with 1.1 innings, letting in two runs on two hits and three walks. Aaron Tadian pitched an inning with one hit and one strikeout and Patrick Dayton finished the final three outs.
Simonetti finished 3-for-5 with a double, two homeruns, eight RBI and three runs scored. Zalewski also went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored. Rosa had a big day as he was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three walks, four runs and two RBI. DalPorto was the fourth Flash to pick up three hits as he also had a double and two RBI. Hurt and Mamarella joined in on the multi-hit club as they both went 2-for-4.
The teams will head back to Mount Pleasant for the second game in the series set for 4:05 p.m. on Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lauer, Eric (0-0)
L: Deeg (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Zalewski, Zarley 2 ; Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Simonetti, Conner 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Hurt, Sam 1
HR: Simonetti, Conner 2
RBI: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Zalewski, Zarley 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 2 ; Simonetti, Conner 8 ; DalPorto, Tim 2 ; Hurt, Sam 2 ; Mamarella, Mason 1
SF: Simonetti, Conner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Zalewski, Zarley 3 ; Rosa, Dylan 4 ; Simonetti, Conner 3 ; Miklos, Alex 1 ; Alvarez, Alec 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; Hurt, Sam 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 1
HBP: Zalewski, Zarley 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 1
PO: DalPorto, Tim 1
Batting:
2B: Fields 1 ; Heeke 1
HR: Fields 1
RBI: Fields 3 ; Heeke 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Robinson 1 ; Jipping 2 ; Fields 2
SB: McKinstry 2
HBP: Houlihan 1
