KSU Masters CMU in Rubber Match

Sunday, April 8

Mount Pleasant, MI

12:00

Kent State University

16-10, 5-3

Central Michigan

10-19-1, 5-3

Kent State

Central Michigan

4/8/2018 8:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Twin bill split gives KSU series win; share of first place

By: Ty Linder

MT. PLEASANT, MICH – Kent State couldn't be contained any longer.

After finally being held in check by an opposing starter, the Golden Flashes erupted for a 19-3 win over Central Michigan in the nightcap of a doubleheader that swung the series in favor of KSU. It was both the most runs scored against and biggest margin of victory over the Chippewas in a series which dates back to 1973. The lopsided win cancelled out a 5-1 setback in the first game in which CMU starter and Cape Cod league product Michael Bretell shut down the previously red-hot Flashes' bats. It also made KSU 8-1 this season when following a loss.

Coupled with Saturday's 11-3 rout, the Golden Flashes won their third straight series on the road against CMU after taking two of three in 2016 and 2012. KSU stayed in a first place tie with Miami's RedHawks who knocked off Bowling Green. KSU and MU are interestingly both 17-10 and 6-3. They face off in the final regular season series, May 17-19 in Oxford.

On this long Sunday in which the first pitch was thrown at 12:06 and last at 6:58, the Flashes took the drama out of the rubber match early. They batted around in the first and dropped a five spot on starter Tyler Hankins. They then delivered an early knockout with a four-run third to make it 9-0. Nick Elsen smoked a two-run triple to the wall in right center as every KSU starter had scored a run before the fourth inning. Each Flashes starter recorded a hit in the game first time since last March against Ball State. Nick Kanavas picked up three hits for the victorious Golden Flashes.

Reilly Hawkins also became the first Golden Flash to collect four hits in a game for the first time since last April when Luke Burch picked up four singles in – ironically – the second game of a doubleheader against Buffalo. For the second time in as many days, head coach Jeff Duncan was able to empty his bench and get most everyone involved. KSU kept adding on, eventually moving out in front, 19-0.

A week after jumping into the program top 10 win list, senior Eli Kraus was dominant over his six shutout innings. He gave way to the bullpen in the seventh and Chris Martin and Jack Zimmerman tossed immaculate innings to keep KSU firmly in command. For the first time in the series, KSU played errorless defense.

With the weather projected to finally break this week, Kent State is scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday before opening a home stand with a game Wednesday against Canisius and three weekend dates with Northern Illinois.