Kent State Takes Series at Ball State With 6-3 Win

Saturday, March 25

Muncie, IN

1:00 PM

Kent State University

14-6, 2-0

Ball State University

11-12, 0-2

Kent State

Ball State

Kent State Takes Series at Ball State With 6-3 Win

3/25/2017 4:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – Kent State (14-6, 2-0) put forth a solid performance on Saturday to take game two at Ball State (11-12, 0-2) by a score of 6-3 to grab the series win.

Zach Willeman had a solid start on the mound while Jared Skolnicki followed with a one-hit 3.2 inning job in relief. The offense stayed consistent with 11 hits on the day to earn the victory.

"I thought today it was really important for our bullpen to be locked down, and Skolnicki came in and it changed the whole face of the game," said Head Coach Jeff Duncan. "He was a huge reason why we won. After they scored those three runs in consecutive innings, it was important for us to bounce back and put up that three-spot. It was huge."

The Golden Flashes got out to a quick lead with two runs in the 1^st. Luke Burch singled on the first pitch of the game and stole second before Mason Mamarella also singled to put runners on the corners. Later on, Tim DalPorto singled Burch home. Dom Iero earned the second RBI of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Cardinals were able to work their way back in the game with single tallies in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th innings. The first run scored on a walk and two base hits. In the 4^th, two singles and a two-base error scored another. The game became tied on a hit batter, another error and sacrifice fly in the 5^th.

However, the lead was short-lived as Kent State answered right back with a three-run 6^th inning. Pete Schuler started it off with a single, DalPorto doubled and Iero was hit by a pitch to load the bases. In a pitch-hit appearance, Reilly Hawkins came through with a RBI single. A wild pitch advanced all the runners and let DalPorto score. Burch grabbed an RBI base hit to make it a 5-3 game.

The final tally of the game came in the 9^th as Burch reached on an error, stole second and scored on a Mamarella single.

Willeman went 5.1 innings for the win with seven hits, three walks and one strikeout. Skolnicki walked just one while striking out four.

Mamarella and DalPorto both picked up three hits on the day while Burch finished 2-for-5.

The final game of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.