Iero's the Hero in Flashes' 9th Inning Win

Thursday, May 26

Avon, OH

8:00 PM

Kent State University

43-12

University of Toledo

19-37-1

Kent State

Toledo

Photo by: David Dermer

Iero's the Hero in Flashes' 9th Inning Win

5/27/2016 12:18:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

AVON, Ohio – In a game of back-and-forth energies, it was Dom Iero's one-out triple in the top of the 9^th inning that sent fans in to a frenzy as Kent State (43-12) stayed atop the MAC Tournament winners bracket with a 3-2 victory over Toledo (19-37-1) Thursday night.

Locked in a 2-2 tie, Conner Simonetti led off the final frame with a single. After Tim DalPorto bunted him over, he scored easily on the Iero three-bagger for the game's deciding run. Zach Willeman was called upon to shut the door on the Rockets, and that he did. The closer struck the first two batters he faced out before getting a fly ball to center to end the game.

Toledo struck first in the contest as a solo homerun gave them the lead in the 2^nd. Kent State got ahead with a two-run 4^th when Mason Mamarella walked and Simonetti smacked a shot to left center, his second in as many tournament games.

In the 5^th, the Rockets knotted the score at two on a trio of base hits, setting up the late heroics.

Andy Ravel pitched well in the start as he was handed a no decision. Ravel went 6.0 innings with two runs, five hits, one walk and four strikeouts. Tim Faix filled in two innings of work, continuing to shine from the bullpen as he kept the Rockets hitless while walking one and striking out two. Faix received the win to move to 4-0 on the season. Willeman's save was his 13^th on the year.

Simonetti had his second consecutive two-hit day to lead the Golden Flashes at the plate. The team's other four hits were scattered throughout the order.

Kent State will have an off day on Friday before returning to action on Saturday at 1 p.m.