Baseball Bounces Back to Split Doubleheader with Bulls

Sunday, April 2

Kent, OH

11:00 AM

Kent State University

16-8, 4-1

University at Buffalo

8-15, 1-1

Buffalo

Kent State

Photo by: Bob Christy

Baseball Bounces Back to Split Doubleheader with Bulls

4/2/2017 6:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, Ohio – Kent State (17-8, 5-1) faltered in game one on Sunday, losing 9-2, then came back with a big 14-0 statement win to take the series versus Buffalo (8-16, 1-2).

Game One – Buffalo 9, Kent State 2

The Golden Flashes kept the first game close until the Bulls opened up with a six-run 6^th inning to take game two in the series.

Buffalo struck first with a run in the 3^rd on a walk and two base hits. Kent State answered in the 4^th to tie the game. Dylan Rosa was hit by a pitch, Dom Iero walked and Sam Hurt singled to knot the game at one.

The Bulls got back in front with a run in the 5^th when they doubled, walked, loaded the bases on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly. The sixth-run 6^th opened the game up to an 8-1 lead.

Kent State looked to rally in the 8^th as Rosa hit a solo homerun and then his teammates loaded the bases with one out. However, the inning would end and Buffalo would tack on another run in the 9^th to put the contest at 9-2.

Zach Willeman went 5.0 innings in the start with seven hits, four earned runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. Connor Wollersheim followed with 3.0 innings of work, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Aaron Tadian pitched the final inning with one run, one hit, one walk and two strikeouts.

The Flashes only mustered five hits in the first game with no player having more than one. Rosa's homerun and doubles by John Matthews and Zach Schultz were the team's extra-base hits.

Game Two – Kent State 14, Buffalo 0

The bats came alive and became loud in game two as Kent State erupted for nine runs in the opening frame en route to a 14-run, 17-hit finale.

Joey Murray set the pace on the mound as he threw three pitches to the first Buffalo batter for a strikeout, followed with another strikeout and then got a fly out on an 11-pitch 1^st inning. He would finish the day with 11 strikeouts for the second Sunday in a row.

Luke Burch took that momentum and led off the bottom of the inning with a double. Mason Mamarella followed with a bunt single then Rosa scored Burch on a sacrifice fly. After singles by Tim DalPorto, Dom Iero and Sam Hurt scored another and loaded the bases, Pete Schuler hit a no-doubter on the first pitch he received for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead. Reilly Hawkins followed with a walk and stolen base before scoring on a RBI base hit by Josh Hollander. Burch stayed hot with his second hit of the inning before Mamarella reached on a walk and scored later on a RBI single from Rosa to make it a 9-0 game at the end of one. Five of the nine hits came on a two-strike count in the inning as the Flashes' approach at the plate yielded success.

The home team continued to post crooked numbers as they scored two in the 2^nd and two more runs in the 3^rd. In the 2rd, Iero walked before scoring on a Hurt double. Schuler then traded places with Hurt for a RBI double. During the next inning, Mamarella walked and scored on a triple by Rosa before Rosa himself came home on a sacrifice fly by DalPorto.

The 14^th and final run came in the 4^th as Hollander doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.

Murray finished with 11 strikeouts and just one walk with three hits in 6.0 innings as he continues to impress. The bullpen followed with strong performances. John Matthews came in to throw one inning with one walk before striking out the side. Zach Schultz followed with an inning that included a strikeout. Zach Spangler finished out the game with one hit and one strikeout as the trio kept Murray's shutout intact.

The offense produced from every spot in the lineup and every starter in the game recorded a hit, as has happened four times now this season. Schuler had the biggest day with five RBI on two hits. Burch, Rosa, Iero, Hurt and Hollander all joined him with two-hits in the game. Mamarella scored three runs on one hit and three walks.

The Golden Flashes will extend the home stand when they host Youngstown State Tuesday in 4 p.m. game.