Kent State Loses First Game at Western Carolina

Friday, March 17

Cullowhee, NC

3:30 PM

Kent State University

9-6

Western Carolina University

8-9

Kent State

Western Carolina

Photo by: David Dermer

Kent State Loses First Game at Western Carolina

3/17/2017 6:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Kent State (9-6) opened up the series at Western Carolina (8-9) with a loss on Friday as the team could not get much success at the plate or on the mound.

The Catamounts were able to take a five-run lead after scoring three in the 2^nd and two in the 3^rd. The runs in the 2^nd came on four singles and a double. The two-run 3^rd came via a walk and two-run homerun.

The Golden Flashes broke through in the 6^th when Luke Burch hit the first pitch of the inning over the wall in right field. However, the Catamounts matched them with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, making it 6-1.

Western Carolina added in two runs in the 7^th and two more in the 8^th to put the game away. Kent State's second run came in the 8^th. Josh Hollander started the inning off with a single and advanced a base on an error. Nick Kanavas, in a pinch hit appearance, also singled and advanced on another error that allowed Hollander to score unearned.

Eli Kraus suffered the loss as the starting pitcher, giving up five runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out one in 5.0 innings. Robert Zeigler followed with three runs on five hits in 2.0 innings. Aaron Tadian threw the final inning with two runs, three hits and one walk.

Burch and Hollander continued to produce offensively. Both finished with two hits and a run scored while Burch earned a RBI. The duo accounted for four of the team's six hits on the day while Burch's blast was the only for extra-bases.

Kent State will look to bounce back into the win column on Saturday when they play another at Western Carolina starting at 4 p.m.