Kent State University
9-5
Western Carolina
1-17
Second Life
3/17/2018 8:34:00 PM | Baseball
Kent State gives up ninth-inning lead, rallies to win in the 10th
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – From near disaster to an extra inning win.
Leading 4-0 in the eighth inning, the Golden Flashes' lead was cut in half by Western Carolina. Then in the ninth, operating without their normal closer, KSU (9-5) coughed up the two-run lead but escaped further damage to send the game into the 10th. It was the second game of the series where Kent State and WCU (1-17) were tied 4-4.
In the 10th, the Golden Flashes snapped the four-all tie when Tim DalPorto bashed a two-run single through the left side to score Mason Mamarella (who had been hit by a pitch to start the inning) and Nick Kanavas (who reached with a bunt single trying to sacrifice). It gave the good guys a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom half. Pavin Parks worked an uneventful inning for win, helped by a nifty double play ball.
Joey Murray had arguably his best outing of the season, tossing six shutout innings. He struck out 10 and allowed only three hits. He took a no-decision on the day.
KSU banged out 10 total hits, and eight of them came from the trio of Mamarella, Kanavas and Dalporto.
Kent State aims for the sweep on Sunday for a 1 p.m. battle.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Parks, Pavin (1-0)
L: Blake Therrian (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Kanavas, Nick 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 1
3B: Hollander, Josh 1
HR: Parks, Pavin 1
RBI: Kanavas, Nick 1 ; Parks, Pavin 3 ; DalPorto, Tim 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 2 ; Kanavas, Nick 2 ; Parks, Pavin 1
SB: Mamarella, Mason 2
HBP: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 1
Batting:
2B: Justice Bigbie 1
RBI: Kitt Capell 1 ; Luke Robinson 1 ; Justice Bigbie 1 ; Bo Fricks 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Will Prater 1 ; Clay Hodges 1 ; Caleb Robinson 1 ; Immanuel Wilder 1
CS: Justice Bigbie 1
HBP: Luke Robinson 1
