Flashes Fall to RedHawks in Rubber Match

Sunday, March 24

Kent, OH

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

10-11, 0

Miami University (OH)

18-4, 0

Miami

Kent State

Photo by: Scott R. Galvin/Galvin Photo, LLC

3/24/2019 4:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The Kent State University baseball team (9-12, 1-2 MAC) fell to Mid-American Conference rival Miami (18-4, 2-1 MAC) 5-1 in the series finale at Schoonover Stadium Sunday afternoon. Freshman Justin Kirby led a Kent State offense that tallied eight hits on the day, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a walk.

"[Miami's Jack Corbell] threw really well today," head coach Jeff Duncan explained. "I think he frustrated us and we weren't resilient enough today to make the adjustment. I feel like we really needed to make a concerted effort to go to the other side of the field and it just didn't happen today offensively…We still have a ways to go, which is ok. We aren't done yet. It will be a good challenge for us moving forward."

Freshman Luke Albright made a stunning appearance out of the bull pen, tossing 5.0 scoreless inning of relief. The right-hander allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out a career-high seven batters.

"Albright is going to be a force in his career," Duncan added. "I think he has really good stuff and really good energy on the mound. I'm happy for him. He's a guy that works really hard and he's growing as the season goes on. It was a great performance for him today."

The Flashes fell behind early as the RedHawks picked up a run in the top of the third and added two more an inning later.

Albright halted the RedHawks through the next five innings and the score remained 3-0 until the top of the ninth inning. The RedHawks picked up two runs to round out their weekend at the plate.

In the bottom of the ninth and down to the final strike, pinch hitter redshirt sophomore Alex Ronnnebaum sparked the Kent State offense with a 2-out double laced to right-center field. Sophomore Greg Lewandoski followed with the Flashes' lone RBI of the day, a single that dropped into right-center and scored Ronnebaum from second base, breaking up the shut out, 5-1.

The Kent State offense notched eight hits on the day. Kirby and Lewandoski each recorded multi-hit games with a double apiece.

Redshirt senior John Schreiber suffered the loss in his sixth start on the mound this season, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Redshirt senior Chris Martin and sophomore Jack Zimmerman relieved Albright and closed out the day, combining for 1.2 innings pitched and two punch outs.

The Flashes will be back in action for two midweek games on the road before continuing conference play next weekend. Kent State will face Dayton on Tuesday, March 26 at 3 p.m. and Indiana the next day at 5:00 p.m.