Kent State University
26-12, 11-2
Central Michigan University
22-19, 10-3
Back-and-Forth Game Falls in Flashes' Favor
4/28/2017 6:56:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State (26-12, 11-2) overcame obstacles on Friday to pull out a 9-7 win over Central Michigan (22-19, 10-3) and to take sole possession of first place in the overall Mid-American Conference standings.
The Chippewas grabbed an early 4-0 lead with two homeruns in the first inning. The first came after a leadoff single, the latter following an error that should have ended the inning.
The Golden Flashes slowly started to chip away at that lead. They scored one in the 2nd when Dylan Rosa singled and Tim DalPorto earned a base hit then both advanced as the left fielder misplayed the ball. Another run came in the 3rd when Mason Mamarella tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Kanavas.
The lead switched into Kent State's grasp with a three-run 4th. It started with singles by Rosa and Pete Schuler. DalPorto then reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Rosa to score as he beat the throw coming home. Dom Iero kept the momentum going with a double down the left field line, scoring two and making it a 5-4 Flashes lead.
An additional tally came in the bottom of the 5th when Luke Burch walked, stole second and came home on a base hit by DalPorto.
However, that two-run lead would turn into a 7-6 advantage for Central Michigan when the foe scored three to start the 7th. Two walks and two errors in the frame harmed Kent State, but they rallied for three of their own in the bottom of the inning to take the deciding lead. Burch walked again, Rosa reached on an error and Iero earned another RBI on a base hit. Josh Hollander then put down a nice bunt for a single while the throw over to first base went wild and allowed two more runs to come home.
After the Flashes took the 9-7 lead, Jared Skolnicki threw a 1-2-3- inning before Patrick Dayton entered the game in the 9th and got two outs before he struck out the Chippewas' four-hole hitter on a full count to end the game.
Eli Kraus went 6.1 innings in the start with four hits, two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. Skolnicki would get the win after 1.2 innings with one hit, two walks, one strikeout and no earned runs allowed. Dayton was awarded the save.
Iero went 2-for-4 in the game with a team-high three RBI. DalPorto was also 2-for-4 with two RBI. Rosa finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday in a 4 p.m. start.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skolnicki, Jared (2-2)
L: GROSJEAN, J. (0-3)
S: Dayton, Patrick (2)
Batting:
HR: JIPPING, D. 1 ; GREENMAN, R. 1
RBI: SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; JIPPING, D. 2 ; KRATT, E. 1 ; GREENMAN, R. 2
SH: SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; GILLES, Z. 1
SF: KRATT, E. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BORGLIN, A. 2 ; SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; JIPPING, D. 1 ; KRATT, E. 1 ; GREENMAN, R. 1 ; GILLES, Z. 1
Batting:
2B: Iero, Dom 1
3B: Mamarella, Mason 1
RBI: Kanavas, Nick 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 2 ; Iero, Dom 3 ; Hollander, Josh 1
SH: Hollander, Josh 1
SF: Kanavas, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Burch, Luke 2 ; Rosa, Dylan 3 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Iero, Dom 1
SB: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Burch, Luke 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 1
CS: Kanavas, Nick 1
