Big Inning Dooms Flashes in Rubber Match

Sunday, February 18

Huntsville, TX

2:00/1:00c

Kent State University

1-2

Sam Houston State

2-1

Kent State

Sam Houston State

Photo by: David Dermer

2/18/2018 5:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Bearkats race past KSU to win weekend despite Hamilton’s two-homer day

By: Ty Linder

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Trailing 5-0, the defending regional champion Sam Houston State Bearkats flexed some major offensive muscle against the KSU pitching staff, ending the game on a 12-1 scoring run to race away from the Golden Flashes, 12-6 in the rubber game of the season-opening series.

With momentum seemingly all on its side after a dramatic win on Friday night, Kent State (1-2) was shut down offensively on Saturday and then lost the slugfest on Sunday. The Golden Flashes were able to strike first in the decisive third game, taking a big lead early on, but were done in by two lopsided frames late. The Bearkats (2-1) scored five in the fifth and rolled a seven in the sixth to pull away.

"It's never ideal to start the season losing a series," head coach Jeff Duncan said. "But at the same time, this was our first time outside against a returning super regional opponent who some people have going to Omaha this year. We did some things well and we obviously have some things to work on."

In KSU's four-run third, Brad Hamilton smoked his first home run of the season (and the day) and Nick Kanavas followed with a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch to increase the lead to 3-0. The Golden Flashes then executed a double steal with Kanavas swiping second and Mason Mamarella scampering home for the 4-0 advantage. Hamilton clubbed his second homer in as many innings to lead off the fourth as KSU sailed out in front, 5-0.

However, Flashes starter Jared Skolnicki wasn't able to keep the Bearkats' bats at bay as the hosts roared back to tie it with a five-run fifth. And after Kent State temporarily moved back in front on an unearned run in the sixth, Sam Houston State took command for good with a seven-run sixth.

The Bearkats' bullpen responded from a rough outing Friday night to shut Kent State out over the final 3 and a third innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Hamilton's Hammer: Hitting eighth in the lineup, Hamilton came through with Kent State's first multi-homer game since Conner Simonetti's two blasts against Bowling Green in May of 2016. Hamilton's leadoff solo blasts in the third and fourth gave the Golden Flashes the early 5-0 lead.

Fregia on Fire: Andrew Fregia went 5-13 on the weekend against KSU, driving in four. He collected 10 total bases and his three-run home run in the fifth with two outs prevented the Golden Flashes from escaping the frame with a 5-2 lead.

Unlucky 7: Leading 6-5, Kent State yielded an ugly seven-run sixth inning that featured five hits and a two-run home run by Jack Rogers. There was also a walk, wild pitch and hit batter to complicate matters. For the weekend, the normally bullet-proof Kent State bullpen was a bit out of character, allowing 12 runs in 9 2/3 innings.

QUOTABLE

"The only down part of this time of year is waiting a week before our next game. Later in the year when we play mid-week games we'll be able to work on some things between weekend series. We are eager to get home and get out on the field at Schoonover for practice."

- - Duncan, on the down time between games in February and the forecasted 70 degrees this week

"I've got to give credit to all the guys who came up before me. They really battled and helped us see all of his stuff. I was fortunate to get some good pitches because of some great at-bats by my teammates."

- - Hamilton, on his two-homer day

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The Golden Flashes went 2-14 with runners in scoring position in Sunday's finale. They stranded 11 runners on the day, 27 for the weekend for an average of nine men stranded per game.

Despite only practicing outdoors once and playing against a southern school on the road, the Golden Flashes committed one less error than their opponent this weekend. KSU fielded the ball at a .971 clip while the Bearkats made four errors and fielded .968.

Hamilton narrowly missed a historic mark in the fourth. He homered to lead off the frame, meaning he was one batting spot away from becoming the first Flashes hitter in 20 years to homer twice in a single inning. Jess Bechard left the yard twice in the third inning against Northern Illinois on March 29 1998.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Golden Flashes will return to campus and prepare for a series of games in Tennessee Feb. 23-25. KSU will battle Belmont, Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee.