Kent State University
Toledo
Zoom Zoom!
4/26/2018 1:03:00 PM | Baseball
Flashes prepare to soar off to Toledo for three-game series
KENT STATE STATS
KENT STATE GAME NOTES
Winners of nine of their last 11 games, and sporting an 11-3 record in the month of April, the Kent State Golden Flashes embark on the second half of Mid-American Conference play this weekend when they play the Toledo Rockets in a three-game series at Scott Park
After sweeping their fourth series of the year on Tuesday with a 10-1 win over Canisius, KSU sits at 25-12 for the year. The Golden Flashes lead the MAC with a 10-5 record after dropping their second home league series of the year last weekend to OU. Kent State remains the only team in the conference to sweep a weekend series.
The weekend series in Lucas County marks the Flashes' first visit to Toledo since 2015. KSU has won nine of 10 against the Rockets, including winning all five encounters last season. UT is currently tied for third in the league with an 8-7 record. Kent State's pitching rotation is expected to feature Joey Murray, Jared Skolnicki and Eli Kraus.
DIAMOND DIALOGUE
- Kent State returns to league play after sweeping the season series from Canisius, 13-11 on April 11 and 10-1 this past Tuesday.
- KSU is 11-3 in the month of April having won nine of 11 and the Golden Flashes are the only MAC team to sweep a series this year.
- With the 4-1 and 2-0 wins over Pitt, Kent State now boasts four wins (three on the road) over Power Five conference teams – Arkansas (10-4) and Notre Dame (4-1).
- KSU is jumping on teams early and late in 2018. The Flashes have outscored the opposition 35-7 in the first inning and 31-19 in the ninth inning or later so far in the 2018 season.
- The Golden Flashes have won nine of the last 10 games against Toledo. KSU swept all five against the Rockets a year ago, including two MAC Tourney games.
- Nick Kanavas is KSU's leading hitter with a .371 average. He also has 16 steals.
- The Golden Flashes have won either the Mid-American Conference regular season or tournament championship in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
- KSU has been tabbed the pre-season league favorite in both the regular and post-season.
- The Golden Flashes will take aim at their 20th consecutive season with at least 30 victories. KSU has had one sub-.500 season since 1981.
SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
The Toledo Rockets have turned their season around during Mid-American Conference play. UT is 14-23 this year but above .500 in league play at 8-7. The Rockets took a series from Eastern Michigan last weekend to move into a third place tie in the MAC standings. They have had a solid offensive season, hitting a collective .272. UT will take its walks and also runs more than the average league team. The Rockets are also among the top teams in the league in terms of home runs with 34. 10 of Toledo's dingers have come from veteran Ross Adolph, who is also UT's second-leading hitter with a .329 average. John Servello leads the club offensively with a .355 clip. On the mound, Sam Shutes leads the staff with seven victories. He has an ERA of 3.94 and has struck out 57. He is expected to pitch Saturday.
SLAMMIN' GOOD TIMES
Kent State has hit four grand slams in 2018. Josh Hollander hit the first on opening night in Texas and Tim DalPorto hit his the next week at Middle Tennessee. Patrick Ferguson and Pavin Parks each cleared the bases with one swing last weekend vs. NIU.
FLASHES PARTY EARLY AND LATE
In a trend that started on opening night, Kent State is bookending teams to death in 2018. KSU has outscored the opposition 35-7 in the first inning this year and is also outscoring the opponent 29-17 in the ninth. This season, 40 percent of the Flashes' runs have come in the seventh inning or later.
