Hamilton's Homer Gives Flashes 8-5 Advantage

Wednesday, May 3

Buffalo, NY

3:00 PM

Kent State University

28-13

Canisius College

26-18

Kent State

Canisius

Photo by: David Dermer

Hamilton's Homer Gives Flashes 8-5 Advantage

5/3/2017 7:19:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A three-run blast by Brad Hamilton in the 7^th inning would be the difference maker Wednesday night as it pushed Kent State (28-13) past Canisius (26-18), 8-5.

With two outs, Tim DalPorto and Dom Iero singled back-to-back to put runners on the corners in a game tied at five. Hamilton was called on to pinch hit and soared the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to make it a 8-5 game.

Patrick Dayton, Zach Spangler and Robert Zeigler all threw 1-2-3 innings in the last three frames to secure the victory.

Canisius was able to score first as a error and double put them up early in the bottom of the 1^st. Kent State got in front in the following inning when DalPorto walked and Patrick Ferguson hit a homerun to left center. The game was quickly tied up in the bottom of the 2^nd on a walk, single and two sacrifice bunts.

The 2-2 tie remained until the Flashes broke it with a three-run 4^th. DalPorto started things with a single and Iero reached when he was hit by a pitch. Nick Kanavas then smacked a RBI base hit. Later on, Luke Burch put down a bunt single while an error on the play allowed Iero and Kanavas to come home.

The Griffins got one back in the 5^th then tied the game in the 6^th on a single, double and another base hit. That tie was also short-lived as Hamilton hit his blast and the bullpen shut the door.

Connor Wollersheim went 3.0 innings in the start with one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out two. Jared Skolnicki followed and put up similar numbers with one run, two hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Dayton earned the win as he went 1.2 innings while Zeigler had the save by pitching the 9^th.

DalPorto had three hits in four at-bats with a walk and three runs scored. The Flashes' other six hits were scattered throughout the order.

Mid-American Conference play will pick back up this weekend when Kent State travels to Eastern Michigan for a three-game series. The first game is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.