Rosa's Three-Run Blast Propels Flashes to 7-6 Victory Over Pittsburgh

Tuesday, March 21

Kent, OH

4:00 PM

Kent State University

12-6

University of Pittsburgh

8-10

Pittsburgh

Kent State

Photo by: Bob Christy

Rosa's Three-Run Blast Propels Flashes to 7-6 Victory Over Pittsburgh

3/21/2017 8:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – A four-run 7^th inning highlighted by a three-run homerun from Dylan Rosa was the difference Tuesday night as Kent State (12-6) beat Pittsburgh (8-10) 7-6 in the home opener at Schoonover Stadium.

In a back-and-forth game, Pittsburgh would score first as they took a 1-0 lead in the 1^st on an unearned run. A walk, hit batter and throwing error during an attempt to turn a double play allowed the run to score.

Starter Robert Zeigler would continue to work out of trouble during the next two innings. In the 2^nd, the Panthers put a runner on third but a strikeout left him there. During the next inning, A walk, single and ground ball put two Panthers in scoring position, but a high fly ball to shortstop would send the game to the bottom of the 3^rd. In his first career start, Zeigler put on a fine performance with just three hits, no earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings.

Scoring remained docile until the 5^th inning when the Flashes would move in front. Tim DalPorto started things off with a single before being advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Hurt. Dom Iero then doubled to tie the game. The lead came later when Josh Hollander singled Iero home.

However, the lead would not last as Pittsburgh answered right back with a two-run frame of its own. A walk, error and hit batter loaded the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly and another base hit allowed the third unearned run of the night come in for a 3-2 lead for the visitors.

Kent State then had a turn to answer and did as the game was tied up at three after six innings. In the bottom of the inning, Mason Mamarella and Rosa both singled before an error allowed Mamarella to come home. With bases loaded, the Flashes looked to beak the tie, but a double play ended the game and kept things knotted at three.

The tie was short-lived as the Panthers scored one in the 7^th on a base hit and two sacrifices, one a bunt and the other a RBI fly.

It wasn't until the bottom of the 7^th until the game would be decided. After a Hollander double, Mamarella walked with two outs before Rosa took a ball on a 0-2 count and sent it over the left field fence for the two-run lead. The rally continued with singles from Pete Schuler and DalPorto before Hurt hit a ground ball up through the middle of the infield for a RBI base hit, making it a 7-4 ball game.

The 8^th inning went quietly but there was more action to be had in the 9^th. Zach Spangler entered the game for the Flashes and started the frame with a strikeout. He then gave up a walk and hit a batter before a single allowed a run to score. A fielder's choice would result in the second out of the inning, but allowed Pittsburgh to come within one run of the lead. After another single put two runners on, the final batter of the game lifted a ball high into left field foul territory. Rosa sprinted over and slid to make an excellent catch to end the game with a victory.

Austin Havekost threw 1.2 innings in relief of Zeigler with one earned run, three hits and three walks. Aaron Tadian was awarded the win as he faced two batters, walking one and striking out the other in a bases-loaded situation in the 7^th. Patrick Dayton had a smooth 1-2-3 8^th inning with a strikeout before Spangler came in to get the save.

Offensively, DalPorto finished 3-for-4 while Rosa and Hollander both had two hits on the night.

The Golden Flashes will begin Mid-American Conference play this weekend in a three-game series at Ball State.