Kent State University
8-5
Western Carolina
1-16
More Ninth Inning Magic from KSU
3/16/2018 9:17:00 PM | Baseball
Kent State breaks 4-4 tie with WCU in three-run final frame
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Four weeks ago, KSU shocked Sam Houston State with a five-run ninth on opening night. Against Western Carolina Friday night, the Golden Flashes flexed some more late-inning muscle.
Trailing early against the Catamounts 3-1, KSU (8-5) drew even on a majestic two-run homer over the batter's eye in center field by Patrick Ferguson. WCU (1-16) then took a 4-3 lead in the seventh before the Golden Flashes again had an answer. In the eighth, Brad Hamilton continued his early season Roy Hobbes' impression with a dramatic game-tying home run to left. That set the stage for the ninth.
It started when Mason Mamarella was hit by a pitch. Nick Kanavas then singled up the middle to put runners at the corners with no one out. Pavin Parks then came through with a ringing RBI shot down the right field line. A single by Tim Dalporto and Hamilton ground out brought home two more insurance runs and KSU had a 7-4 lead.
On the mound, Conner Wollersheim tossed five solid innings in making a Friday night spot start. After effective outings from Chris Martin and John Schreiber, Austin Havekost slammed the door for the second straight week with two and a third innings of shutout relief. He struck out one to earn his second win of the year. Last week he was the winning pitcher when KSU knocked off #7 Arkansas.
Kent State played errorless baseball. The Golden Flashes aim for a series-clinching win tomorrow at 3:00 EDT in Cullowhee.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Havekost, Austin (2-0)
L: Corey Sikes (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Kanavas, Nick 1 ; Parks, Pavin 1
HR: Hamilton, Brad 1 ; Ferguson, Patrick 1
RBI: Parks, Pavin 2 ; DalPorto, Tim 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 2 ; Ferguson, Patrick 2
SH: Lewandoski, Greg 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 2 ; Parks, Pavin 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 2 ; Ferguson, Patrick 1
SB: Kanavas, Nick 2
CS: Mamarella, Mason 1
HBP: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: Luke Robinson 1 ; Justice Bigbie 1
RBI: Justice Bigbie 2 ; Spencer Holcomb 1 ; Will Prater 1
SH: Andrew Robinson 1 ; Caleb Robinson 1 ; Clay Hodges 1
SF: Spencer Holcomb 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cameron Blaquiere 1 ; Luke Robinson 1 ; Spencer Holcomb 1 ; Will Prater 1
SB: Justice Bigbie 1
HBP: Matthew Koehler 1
