Baseball Picks Up Midweek Win at Pitt

Wednesday, March 20

Pittsburgh, PA

3:00 p.m.

Kent State University

8-10

University of Pittsburgh

7-12

Kent State

Pittsburgh

3/20/2019 7:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Kent State University baseball team (8-10) picked up its eighth win of the season, topping Pitt (7-12) 6-4 in a day trip to the City of Bridges Wednesday afternoon. The Flashes collected eight hits on the day, and senior Kian O'Brien launched his first home run of the season in the top of the eighth to round out the day.

The Flashes fell behind in the bottom of the first inning as the Panthers drew four straight walks and pushed across a run on a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead. The score remained until Kent State scored a run in the top of the fourth inning when senior Pete Schuler scored from second base on single off the bat of sophomore Nick Elsen.

Pitt added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Flashes responded with three runs in the top of the sixth. Freshman Justin Kirby and redshirt sophomore Ben Carew led off the frame with back-to-back walks and Elsen loaded the bases wearing a pitch with one out. Junior Patrick Ferguson recorded an RBI with a bases-loaded walk and senior Pavin Parks followed with a two-run single drilled to right-center field.

The Panthers picked up a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Flashes held the lead entering the eighth when O'Brien knocked a home run out of Charles L. Cost Field to bring the final score to 6-4.

The Flashes saw a total of eight hits from seven players, adding five walks on the day. Schuler extended his hitting streak to six games and multi-hit game streak to five, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Parks recorded two RBIs on a hit, while Elsen, Ferguson and O'Brien each tallied an RBI.

The Kent State pitching staff combined for a two-hitter with redshirt freshman Peyton Deats (2-0) picking up his second career win on the bump. Deats allowed just one hit and one run in 2.0 innings of work. Redshirt senior John Schreiber made his fifth start for the Flashes, with freshman Trevor Pittman spinning 3.0 scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts. Freshman Max Rippl and Parks each appeared on the mound, while redshirt senior Chris Martin recorded his first save of the season, closing the door in the ninth with a strikeout.

Next up, the Flashes will begin conference play, hosting Miami (16-3) at Schoonover Stadium Friday through Sunday, March 22-24.