Late Rally Not Enough as Baseball Falls in MAC Tournament Title Game

Sunday, May 29

Avon, OH

1:30 PM

Kent State University

44-14

Western Michigan University

22-32

Western Michigan

Kent State

Late Rally Not Enough as Baseball Falls in MAC Tournament Title Game

5/29/2016 5:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

AVON, Ohio – Kent State (44-14) attempted a big, late comeback, but could not overcome a 12-run deficit in a 12-7 loss against Western Michigan (22-32) in the Mid-American Conference Tournament final.

Despite falling short of capturing another tournament championship, the Golden Flashes' 44 wins ties the third-most in program history, matching the mark set in 1983 and only surpassed by 47 in 2012 and 45 in 2011 and 1992. The team's ERA of 2.89 ranks as the 4^th best all-time. 47 homeruns on the year is the most since 2010. Numerous Golden Flashes also broke into the record book in both single-season and career statistics.

In Sunday's game, Kent State fell into a 12-0 hole through the first eight innings. Western Michigan scored one in the 3^rd, three in the 2^nd, one in the 4^th, five in the 6^th and two in the 8^th, getting help from four KSU errors in the process.

In the bottom of the 8^th, the Flashes strung together seven runs to get the faithful fans back on their feet. It all started with a Dom Iero walk, Sam Hurt pinch-hit single and another pinch-hit single by Alex Miklos to load the bases with no outs. Luke Burch then ripped a triple to left center, clearing the bases. Zarley Zalewski brought Burch home on a base hit before Conner Simonetti followed with a single of his own. With two on, Brad Hamilton had the loudest swing in the inning, smacking a ball over the left field wall for a three-run shot, making it a 12-7 game.

After a quick top of the 9^th from seniors Eli Martin and Tim Faix, the Flashes put a runner on second with one out in the bottom of the frame, but the game and the season would end there.

Connor Wollershiem started the game going 3.1 innings with three earned runs, seven hits, no walks and one strikeout. John Schreiber, Chris Martin, Aaron Tadian and Patrick Dayton all followed in relief before Martin and Faix finished the game in their last appearance as Golden Flashes.

Simonetti led the offense again with two of the team's seven hits. Burch and Hamilton had three RBI each. Simonetti, Eric Lauer and Joey Murray were all named to the 2016 MAC All-Tournament Team.

Western Michigan will move on as the MAC's automatic qualifier for NCAA Regional play. The teams and seedings will be announced Monday at noon.