KSU Soars Into First Place with Twin Bill Sweep

Friday, April 13

Kent, OH

3:00

Kent State University

20-10, 0

Northern Illinois

11-21, 0

Northern Illinois

Kent State

KSU Soars Into First Place with Twin Bill Sweep

4/13/2018 8:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Flashes outscore Huskies 14-3 in Friday DH

By: Ty Linder

KENT, OHIO – Two dominating wins by the red-hot Golden Flashes moved KSU into sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference in a Friday twin bill sweep of Northern Illinois.

In game one, Joey Murray tossed a complete game masterpiece with 15 strikeouts. His only run allowed was unearned as he recorded his fourth straight double-digit punch out performance. Murray – who came into the weekend with an ERA of 1.32 actually lowered it to 1.11 thanks to the mesmerizing victory. He is now 5-1 on the season.

Providing the run support for him in game one was Patrick Ferguson, whose seventh-inning grand slam broke open what was then a tight 3-1 game. He became the third KSU slugger to club a slam in 2018 after Josh Hollander and Tim DalPorto did the same earlier in the year.

In game two against NIU rookie ace Michael Lasiewicz, the Golden Flashes plated a run in the first on a Pavin Parks two-out single. And with the game tied 1-1 in the fourth, KSU did something it's done quite often as of late – log a crooked number. The Flashes rolled a four thanks to a bases-clearing double down the left field line by Greg Lewandoski. The good guys added single runs in the fifth and eighth to make a winner of Connor Wollersheim. John Matthews and Jack Zimmerman combined to work four scoreless innings.

Kent State – which has now won five in a row for the first time this season – will attempt its second MAC series sweep of the year on Saturday at high noon. The Golden Flashes improved to 21-10 on the year with a 8-3 league mark.