Kent State University
10-7, 1-1
Ball State
11-11, 1-1
KSU Lowers Boom on Ball State
3/24/2018 6:27:00 PM | Baseball
Series evens on Murray and Havekost’s combined shutout
KENT, Ohio – KSU hurlers Joey Murray and Austin Havekost combined to twirl Kent State's first shutout of the 2018 season and the Flashes' bats came to life in a series-evening 11-0 win over Ball State.
Kent State (11-7) broke a scoreless tie in the home half of the third when Tim DalPorto smoked a bases-loaded single to the opposite field to make it 2-0 in favor of KSU. It stayed that way until the sixth as both starters Murray and Kyle Nicolas found grooves. In the bottom of the sixth, KSU finally made the Cards pay for their walks. Pete Schuler ripped a two-run double to the gap in left and Kent State made it 4-0.
Two bases loaded walks later in the inning gave the hosts a 6-0 lead. Murray left in the seventh and Havekost took the Flashes the rest of the way, striking out three. He has now struck out 23 against just one walk this season. Murray, meanwhile lowered his team-leading ERA to 1.62.
The Golden Flashes put the game away with a five-run eighth against the redbirds' bullpen. Dalporto drove in two more with a single and Brad Hamilton joined the parade with a two-run single to left. Nick Elsen added one more with a sacrifice fly to centre.
The series' rubber match now takes place Sunday at 1 p.m. when KSU gives the ball to senior Eli Kraus.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Murray, Joey (2-1)
L: NICOLAS, Kyle (2-3)
Base Running:
SB: FREED, Seth 1
HBP: RICOTTA, John 1
Batting:
2B: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1
RBI: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Parks, Pavin 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 2 ; DalPorto, Tim 4 ; Schuler, Pete 2 ; Elsen, Nick 1
SH: Mamarella, Mason 1
SF: Elsen, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Mamarella, Mason 2 ; Kanavas, Nick 1 ; Parks, Pavin 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 1 ; DalPorto, Tim 2 ; Lewandoski, Greg 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; Hollander, Josh 1
SB: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Kanavas, Nick 1
CS: Hawkins, Reilly 1 ; Hollander, Josh 1
