Baseball Drops Two at West Virginia

Saturday, March 9

Morgantown, WV

11:00 a.m.

Kent State University

4-8

West Virginia University

7-5

Kent State

West Virginia

3/9/2019 6:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MORGANTOWN, W.V. –The Kent State baseball team (4-9) dropped the first two games against West Virginia (8-5) at Monongalia County Ballpark Saturday afternoon. Senior Connor Wollersheim held the Mountaineers scoreless through five innings in the first game, but suffered a 6-2 loss in the series opener. The Flashes fell the nightcap, 8-4, as the Mountaineers came back from a four-run deficit in the sixth inning.

Game 1: West Virginia 6, Kent State 2

Senior Connor Wollersheim (0-3) started on the mound for the Flashes, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The lefty rung up six batters in the loss, allowing only one hit and one earned run through 5.0 innings of work. Junior Zach Schultz and sophomore Jack Zimmerman went to the bump in relief, combining for three strikeouts and four hits to close out the game.

Gridlocked until the sixth inning, the Mountaineers tallied the first two runs of the game on a triple down the right field line and added a run in the seventh to take 3-0 lead.

The Flashes responded in the top of the eighth with a lead-off home run launched over right field wall by junior Patrick Ferguson. Kent State picked up its second and final run on a sacrifice fly off the bat off senior Kian O'Brien.

The Mountaineers tacked on three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the victory, 6-2.

The Kent State offense matched West Virginia with five hits from five batters. Ferguson and O'Brien each tallied RBIs while sophomore Greg Lewandoski reached base twice, recording a hit and a walk.

Game 2: West Virginia 8, Kent State 4

The Flashes took an early two-run lead in the top of the second inning. Ferguson led off the frame with a one-out single to center field and was scored from first with a triple rocketed to left center by sophomore Nick Elsen. Senior Josh Hollander followed with a bunt-single to score Elsen.

Kent State tacked on two runs in the top of the sixth as senior Pete Schuler knocked a timely single to right field with bases loaded for two RBIs. The Mountaineers responded in the bottom of the frame, erasing Kent State's 4-0 lead with a five-run rally.

West Virginia went on to add three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring the final score to 8-4.

Junior John Matthews (0-4) suffered the loss on the mound in the nightcap, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters in 5.1 innings of work. Redshirt freshman Trevor Pittman and freshman Max Rippl saw action out of the bullpen.

The Flashes notched nine hits against the Mountaineers and took seven free passes. Hollander went 2-for-3 with two walks, a run scored an RBI. Elsen also collected a pair of hits, including the RBI-triple and a run scored.

Kent State and West Virginia will close out the series at Monongalia County Ballpark on Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m.