Skolnicki's Start Sends Flashes to MAC Semifinals

Friday, May 26

Avon, OH

4:30 PM

Kent State University

37-16

University of Toledo

17-41

Toledo

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Skolnicki's Start Sends Flashes to MAC Semifinals

5/26/2017 9:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

AVON, Ohio – In arguably the biggest game of his career, Jared Skolnicki gave the Golden Flashes (37-16) just what they needed to take down Toledo (17-41) 6-3 and move on to the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals on Saturday.

No. 1 Kent State will play No. 5 Ohio at 1 p.m. at Sprenger Stadium in Avon.

In the elimination game, Skolnicki gave his team 7.2 strong innings. He gave up eight hits and three runs, with three of the hits and all of the runs coming in the eighth when he had reached 100 pitches. He struck out three well walking one in the win.

The offense got to work quickly by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Josh Hollander and Luke Burch were both hit by a pitch before Dylan Rosa was hit to load the bases with one out. Zach Schultz then grounded out to score the first run of the game. With runners on second and third and two outs, Pete Schuler came up with a clutch single to right field to score two more.

Rosa hit a solo homerun out to left field in the fifth to make it a 4-0 game. The lead grew to 6-0 in the seventh when Dom Iero dropped in a bloop base hit to score two runners who were both put on base via the walk.

Skolnicki gave up two singles and a homerun in the eighth to allow the Rockets to make it a 6-3 game, but Zach Spangler came in relief and got a groundout to end the inning.

Patrick Dayton was phenomenal in the ninth inning to close out the game. He entered with two runners on with not outs and struck out the side to seal the victory.

Kent State's six hits were scattered throughout the order. They showed good plate discipline by walking nine times and striking out just four times in the game.

With a win against Ohio at 1 p.m. on Saturday, the Flashes will then have to face the Bobcats again the same day to advance to the championship game on Sunday. Follow @KentStBaseball on Twitter for the latest updates.