Flashes Split Saturday Doubleheader at FIU

Saturday, February 25

Miami, FL

3:00 PM

Kent State University

4-1

Florida International University

2-3

Kent State

FIU

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Split Saturday Doubleheader at FIU

2/25/2017 10:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MIAMI, Fla. – Kent State (5-1) let a 7-6 12-inning game get by them to start the day Saturday at FIU (2-4), but bounced back for a 7-inning 3-2 victory to split the doubleheader.

Game 1 – FIU 7, Kent State 6 (12 innings)

The Golden Flashes struck first with two runs in the opening frame when Mason Mamarella singled and Luke Burch tripled him in and then scored himself on a wild pitch.

It stayed a 2-0 game until the Panthers worked their way back to tie things up. They scored one in the 7^th on solo homerun then sent the game to extra innings on a bunt single, sacrifice bunt, wild pitch and sacrifice fly sequence in the 9^th.

In the 10^th, it looked to be all over as the Flashes posted a four-run effort. It started with a Burch single and a walk to Dylan Rosa. Pete Schuler then had a go-ahead RBI to score one and put two on base. Brad Hamilton followed with a homerun out to left field to make it a 6-2 game going to the bottom of the 10^th.

FIU didn't want to end things there. They tied the game once again on late life with a four-run inning of their own in the 10^th. A single started it off, followed by a homerun to make it 6-4. Three more singles and a double tied things up at 6. That double with two runners on nearly ended the game, but the runner who was on first was thrown out at home to keep the game alive.

In the decisive 12^th inning, a solo homerun allowed FIU to walk off with the game one win.

The Flashes collected 14 hits in the game, led by a 4-for-6 day by Burch who had a double and triple. Tim DalPorto went 3-for-5 while Josh Hollander also had a good day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4.

Connor Wollersheim had a good start, going 6.0 innings with one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three. Chris Martin and Patrick Dayton followed with neither allowing a hit or walk and each striking out a batter. Zach Spangler went 2.2 innings while Aaron Tadian suffered the loss in the final 1.2 innings on the mound.

Game 2 – Kent State 3, FIU 2 (7 innings)

Kent State didn't waste much time getting a tally on the board as they scored quickly in game two. In the 1^st, Mamarella walked, Burch singled and Rosa picked up an RBI with a base hit.

However, FIU got the advantage back as they scored twice in the opening inning. A double, single, two wild pitches and an error allowed the two runs to come home.

It would remain a 2-1 game until the Flashes tied it in the 5^th on another run scored by Mamarella. He started off the inning getting hit by a pitch, advanced on a Rosa single and scored on Schuler single.

The deciding run of game two came in the 5^th on a trio of base hits. Burch started things off, Rosa followed and DalPorto picked up the RBI with an infield hit.

Rosa finished the day with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate while Burch went 2-for-4 in game two.

Zach Willeman went the distance on the mound to earn the complete-game victory. He allowed one run, four hits and no walks while striking out two in 7.0 innings.

The final matchup of the series will be played on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.