Flashes Suffer Walk-Off Loss to Purdue

Tuesday, March 28

West Lafayette, IN

6:00 PM

Kent State University

15-7

Purdue University

13-10

Kent State

Purdue

Photo by: Bob Christy

3/28/2017 10:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Kent State (15-7) surrendered a walk-off to Purdue (13-10) Tuesday night in what turned out to be a game of strong pitching performances.

Despite five runs scoring and only one error occurring, not one run was earned in a midweek pitchers' duel. Robert Zeigler set the tone for the Flashes on the mound and the bullpen followed in similar fashion.

The first run of the game was scored in the 3^rd as the Boilermakers brought a run across on two singles and a passed ball. Kent State would answer back in the 6^th. The frame started with a double by Sam Hurt. Nick Kanavas was successful with a sacrifice bunt to put Hurt in scoring position. He came in to score when Luke Burch reached on an error. Burch then stole second and scored on a double by Dylan Rosa to put the Flashes up 2-1.

It would remain that way until the 9^th. Zach Spangler entered the game and immediately got an out on the first pitch he threw as the batter hit a ground ball to second. In the next at-bat, he was able to battle for a strikeout swinging, but a passed ball allowed the runner to reach first. After a fly ball recorded the second out of the frame, a single, balk and an infield hit would allow Purdue to tie and then walk off with a 3-2 victory.

Zeigler was impressive in the no-decision, going 5.2 innings with four hits, no walks and five strikeouts. Jared Skolnicki then came in and threw 1.1 frames with no hits and two strikeouts to continue his current streak of dominance on the mound. Patrick Dayton followed suit with two strikeouts in 1.0 inning. Zach Spangler suffered the loss despite not giving up an earned run with two hits and a strikeout in 0.2 frames.

Neither team had much offensive success on the night. Rosa finished 2-for-4 with half of the Flashes' hits.

Kent State will return home and to conference play when the team hosts Buffalo for a three-game series this weekend beginning with a 6 p.m. game on Friday.