Kent State University
34-14
Youngstown State University
15-37
Flashes Finish Out Home Season with 13-6 Win
5/16/2017 10:22:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio – The Golden Flashes (34-14) closed out the home season at Schoonover Stadium with a big 13-6 win over Youngstown State (15-37) on Tuesday night.
Kent State had to work its way back to get ahead late in the game after being down early. Youngstown State went up 3-0 in the first frame before the Flashes were able to answer with two in the bottom of the inning. The home team was gifted its first runs as Mason Mamarella and Dylan Rosa walked before Tim DalPorto was hit to load the bases. A Reilly Hawkins sacrifice fly allowed the first run to come across. Later on with bases loaded once again, Dom Iero was hit by a pitch for an easy RBI.
The Flashes tied the game at three in the second when John Matthews walks and came home later on a Mamarella base hit. That lead was short-lived when a solo homerun to left field put the Penguins back in front. However, the Golden Flashes were able to tie the game again in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Josh Hollander after a double, fielder's choice and balk put a runner on third.
The fourth inning went by quietly before Kent State burst the game open with a three-run fifth and four-run sixth. The rally in the fifth came all on two outs. Hollander singled and reached second base on an error. Then, Matthews and Burch both smacked doubles and each picked up an RBI. Mamarella then earned another base hit to score Burch.
In the sixth, DalPorto started things off with a single to left and Brad Hamilton followed with a double in a pinch-hit appearance. A Nick Kanavas loaded the bases that were cleared with one swing of the bat as Hollander had a loud triple to right center for three more RBI on the night. He would scamper home shortly after on a wild pitch to make it an 11-4 lead.
The Penguins were able to bring two runs across in the seventh, but the Flashes answered with two of their own after the stretch. Rosa singled before Pete Schuler rocketed a shot well over the right field wall to make it a 13-6 ballgame.
Austin Havekost got the start and allowed four runs on one walk and six hit, but also struck out five in 4.0 innings in the mound. Joe Vranesic followed and earned the win. He went 3.0 innings with one earned run on three hits. Zach Schultz and Aaron Tadian finished the game on the mound, each throwing a scoreless frame.
Hollander ended his big night with four RBI by going 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Mamarella finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and three walks. Rosa and DalPorto also picked up two hits on the night.
Kent State will finish the regular season at Ohio in a Thursday through Saturday three-game series. The Flashes need one win to clinch the 2017 Mid-American Conference regular season championship. The MAC Tournament will be held next week in Avon, Ohio, starting on Wednesday, May 24. Stay tuned to kentstatesports.com or follow @KentStBaseball on Twitter for more information as the postseason looms closer.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vranesic, Joe (2-0)
L: SLINGER, J. (1-4)
Batting:
2B: PADOVAN, N. 1
HR: KENDRICK, A. 1
RBI: ROHAN, A. 1 ; KENDRICK, A. 1 ; PADOVAN, N. 1 ; BRIDIS, T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ARCURI, L. 1 ; KENDRICK, A. 2 ; PADOVAN, N. 1 ; SANTORO, A. 1 ; CHENG, E. 1
SB: LARIVEE, A. 1 ; CHARLES, W. 1
HBP: SANTORO, A. 1
Batting:
2B: Burch, Luke 1 ; Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 1 ; Matthews, John 1
3B: Hollander, Josh 1
HR: Schuler, Pete 1
RBI: Burch, Luke 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 2 ; Schuler, Pete 2 ; Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Iero, Dom 1 ; Hollander, Josh 4 ; Matthews, John 1
SH: Burch, Luke 1
SF: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Hollander, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burch, Luke 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 2 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 2 ; Hollander, Josh 2 ; Matthews, John 2
SB: Mamarella, Mason 1
HBP: DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 1 ; Iero, Dom 1
