Matthews' Magic Puts Flashes in First in Walkoff Win

Sunday, April 30

Kent, OH

1:00 PM

Kent State University

27-13, 12-3

Central Michigan University

23-20, 11-4

Central Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Matthews' Magic Puts Flashes in First in Walkoff Win

4/30/2017 5:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – John Matthews found some magic in the bottom of the 10^th inning on Sunday to help Kent State (27-13, 12-3) grab the overall lead in the Mid-American Conference as it beat Central Michigan (23-20, 11-4) on a 6-5 walkoff win.

The Golden Flashes had a 4-0 lead but then saw that surrendered later on in the game. Down one with one out in the 8^th, Matthews came to bat with bases loaded but hit into a double play on the first pitch he was served. After the game was sent to extras thanks to a Luke Burch single and Zach Schultz double in the 9^th, Matthews found redemption in the 10^th. Brad Hamilton had a pinch-hit single, Nick Kanavas walked and Josh Hollander walked to load the bases yet again for Matthews. He came through with a single to right field to allow the winning run to score.

Robert Zeigler was a big part of the Flashes' success as he threw the final 4.0 innings impeccably, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out five for the win.

Joey Murray got the start on the mound and threw well. He went 6.0 innings with six hits, two runs, four walks and eight strikeouts.

The team provided four runs for him starting with a single tally in the 2^nd and another in the 3^rd. The first run came when Tim DalPorto singled, Dom Iero was hit by a pitch, Reilly Hawkins bunted them over and DalPorto scored on a ground out by Kanavas. In the 3^rd, Matthews led off with a single to left and eventually came home on another ground out.

The lead opened up to 4-0 after two runs in the 5^th. Matthews singled again before Burch hit a ground rule double over the left field wall. With runners on the corners, Mason Mamarella hit a sacrifice fly. Dylan Rosa followed with a RBI base hit.

It would not be smooth sailing, though, as Central Michigan worked its way back in to the game. The Chippewas hit a two-run homerun in the 6^th and another in the 7^th to tie it at four. After the Central Michigan head coach was ejected, the team rallied and hit a go-ahead base hit. Zeigler would get a double play to end the inning and the threat.

That led to the dramatics to come in the next three innings and gave some momentum to the Golden Flashes, enabling them to pull of the 6-5 victory.

Matthews finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and the game-winning RBI. Burch was also 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Iero went 2-for-4 while Mamarella led the team with two RBI.

Kent State's next contest will be a 3 p.m. game at Canisius on Tuesday.