Kent State University
10-6
Western Carolina University
8-10
Six Homeruns Power Kent State to 16-10 Victory
3/18/2017 11:13:00 PM | Baseball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Kent State (10-6) clobbered six homeruns and five doubles on Saturday to even the series at Western Carolina (8-10) with a 16-10 victory.
For the second time this season, every Golden Flash starter got a hit while all nine starters also scored at least one run and picked up an RBI in the impressive offensive output.
The Catamounts loaded the bases in the 1st on a hit batter, double, and walk, but Zach Willeman enticed a swing and a miss on a 2-2 count to end the inning. However, the home team scored three in the next inning to take the lead.
An unrelenting ten-run inning for the Flashes in the top of the 3rd would put the lead in their favor. The onslaught began with a Nick Kanavas double, Luke Burch single and Mason Mamarella RBI fielder's choice. Back-to-back doubles by Pete Schuler and Tim DalPorto soon after scored two runners. Sam Hurt then reached on base hit bunt before Dom Iero singled to score DalPorto. With two on, Josh Hollander hit Kent State's first homerun of the night out to left field. Burch and Kanavas then decided to join the party as they both hit one out for back-to-back-to-back bombs for Kent State, making it a 10-3 game.
The Golden Flashes tacked on two more in the next inning when Hurt singled, Iero doubled and Mamarella singled to plate two.
A solo homerun by Hurt in the 5th, the first of his career, and another solo shot by Rosa in the 6th made it a 14-3 contest.
Western Carolina was able to get some production of its own as a single, double and two more base hits allowed three runs to score in the 6th. Kent State got one of those runs back when Iero went deep to right field in the 7th.
Both teams had late life in the 9th. DalPorto singled and Iero hit him home for the team's 16th run. The Catamounts scored four, three via the homerun, but an 0-2 foul out would end the game 16-10 in favor of the Flashes.
Willeman got the win by going 5.0 innings in the start with three runs, five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Jared Skolnicki followed with three runs and six hits in 2.1 innings. Patrick Dayton threw the next 1.1 innings with four runs, four hits, one walk and one strikeout. Zach Spangler came in to get the final out of the game, which he did on three pitches.
Iero had the best offensive day by going 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. Hurt and Kanavas both had three hits while Burch, Mamarella, DalPorto and Hollander all had two.
The rubber match of the series is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Willeman, Zach (3-2)
L: Baker (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Schuler, Pete 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Iero, Dom 1 ; Hollander, Josh 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 1
HR: Burch, Luke 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Hurt, Sam 1 ; Iero, Dom 1 ; Hollander, Josh 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 1
RBI: Burch, Luke 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 3 ; Rosa, Dylan 2 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Hurt, Sam 1 ; Iero, Dom 3 ; Hollander, Josh 3 ; Kanavas, Nick 1
SF: Rosa, Dylan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burch, Luke 2 ; Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 2 ; Hurt, Sam 3 ; Iero, Dom 3 ; Hollander, Josh 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 2
SB: Kanavas, Nick 1
HBP: Hurt, Sam 1
Batting:
2B: Suzuki 1 ; Bowman 1
HR: Holcomb 1 ; L. Robinson 1
RBI: Suzuki 2 ; Pope 1 ; Bowman 2 ; Holcomb 3 ; L. Robinson 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Suzuki 2 ; C. Robinson 1 ; Koehler 1 ; Holcomb 2 ; L. Robinson 1 ; Sparks 2 ; Blaquiere 1
HBP: Suzuki 2 ; Blaquiere 1
