Kent State University
8-11, 0
Miami University (OH)
17-3, 0
Flashes Split the Day with Miami
3/23/2019 9:39:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio –The Kent State University baseball team (9-11, 1-1 MAC) opened Mid-American Conference play splitting a doubleheader with Miami (17-4, 1-1 MAC) at Schoonover Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Flashes suffered a 3-2 loss in the series opener, but turned the day around slugging 16 hits to snap the RedHawks' 14-game winning streak 12-2 in the nightcap.
"All-in-all I think it was a really good day," head coach Jeff Duncan said. We had a really good response especially in the second game. I thought we played well enough to win in the first game, but we just didn't get the timely hit when we needed to."
Game 1: Miami 3, Kent State 2
Senior Connor Wollersheim (1-4) started on the mound for the Flashes, carrying a scoreless game into the top of the sixth inning. The lefty recorded the loss despite holding a Miami offense that has been averaging more than eight runs and ten hits a game to just three hits and two runs while fanning seven in 6.0 innings of work. Junior Zach Schultz pitched 2.2 innings of relief and redshirt sophomore Tyler Drabick closed out the first game with the final out out of the bullpen.
Gridlocked until the sixth inning, the RedHawks struck first with a two-run home run to left center. Miami added its third and final run of the game an inning later. The Flashes fell short in a late-innings comeback, picking up a run off the bat of senior Pete Schuler in the eighth inning. Senior Josh Hollander launched his first home run of the season over the wall in left field in the ninth to bring the final score to 3-2.
The Flashes out-hit the RedHawks in the first game of the day, tallying seven hits from six players. Schuler led the offense going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Game 2: Kent State 12, Miami 2
The Flashes offense exploded in the nightcap as every Kent State starter recorded at least one hit in the 12-2 victory. Kent State tied a season-high 16 total hits on the night, with sophomore Michael Turner led the way going 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew and freshman Justin Kirby added three hits apiece, while Kirby notched four RBIs and three runs scored. Schuler added three RBIs in the second game.
Junior John Matthews (2-4) put on a show of his own on the mound for the Flashes, recording his second win of the season. Making his sixth start of the season, the right-hander tossed 7.0 innings, striking out seven and allowing just two runs on five hits and two walks. Senior Pavin Parks sealed the deal, closing out the game with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work.
The RedHawks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, however the Flashes responded immediately to take a lead that was never relinquished in the bottom of the inning. Schuler extended his hitting streak to eight games, clobbering a two-run, two-out home run to right field.
The Flashes added a run in the bottom of the fifth, and Miami picked up its final run of the day in the next frame.
Kent State poured on four runs in the bottom of the sixth, seeing the entire order step to the plate. Junior Patrick Ferguson led off the inning with a double, and sophomore Greg Lewandoski singled on a bunt down to the third-base side. Turner singled to center to load the bases, and redshirt sophomore Kevin Dobos recorded an RBI, getting hit by a pitch. Kirby followed with a two-run single to center that forced a RedHawk pitching change. Carew re-loaded the bases with a free pass, and Parks walked in a run for the inning.
The Flashes rallied for another four-run inning an inning later, extending the lead to 11-2. Turner led off the inning with a one-out single, before Hollander, Dobos and Kirby came up with three-consecutive doubles to notch three runs and force another pitching change. Carew knocked an RBI-single to right to round out the inning.
Kent State added its last run in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI-single up the middle off the bat of Kirby to bring the final score to 12-2.
"We were hitting the ball really hard - even our outs were hard hit," Duncan added. "It was a good response. I'm happy with the whole day. I thought we pitched well and we defended really well. Our guys were resilient, even in the first game. We scored late and just came up short, but for us to bounce back in Game Two the way we did, I'm happy."
The Flashes and the Redhawks will close out the series on Sunday, March 24 with a 1 p.m. start at Schoonover Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matthews, John (2-4)
L: MRAZ, Spencer (3-2)
Batting:
2B: STEPHENS, Landon 1 ; STOLZE, Nate 1 ; STEPHENS, Jordan 1
RBI: STEPHENS, Landon 1 ; STEPHENS, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WINKLER, Kyle 1 ; STOLZE, Nate 1
Batting:
2B: Kirby, Justin 1 ; Ferguson, Patrick 1 ; Turner, Michael 1 ; Hollander, Josh 1 ; Dobos, Kevin 1
HR: Schuler, Pete 1
RBI: Kirby, Justin 4 ; Carew, Ben 1 ; Schuler, Pete 3 ; Parks, Pavin 1 ; Dobos, Kevin 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Kirby, Justin 3 ; Carew, Ben 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1 ; Ferguson, Patrick 1 ; Lewandoski, Greg 1 ; Turner, Michael 3 ; Hollander, Josh 1 ; Dobos, Kevin 1
HBP: Vera, Grant 1 ; Dobos, Kevin 1
