Kent State University
Central Michigan University
Baseball to Host Central Michigan
4/11/2019 3:42:00 PM | Baseball
Game 1 (Friday, April 12): Kent State Radio | Live Stats
Game 2 (Saturday, April 13): Kent State Radio | Live Stats
Game 3 (Sunday, April 14): Kent State Radio | Live Stats
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State University baseball team (13-17, 3-4 MAC) is slated to host Central Michigan (24-8, 7-2 MAC) at Schoonover Stadium for a three-game Mid-American Conference series Friday through Sunday, April 12-14. The games are scheduled for 6:00, 4:00 and 1:00 p.m. respectively.
The Flashes will enter the series 3-4 in the conference after taking a series 2-1 from Western Michigan last weekend. Kent State is currently sixth in the MAC standings while the Chippewas stand in second behind Miami with the same 7-2 MAC record.
Last time out, the Flashes fell to Canisius 13-2 in Buffalo, N.Y. Tuesday night. Senior Kian O'Brien highlighted the Kent State offense, sending his fifth home run of the season over the fence in straightaway center field.
Announced Monday, April 8, O'Brien was named the MAC Player of the Week marking Kent State's third weekly honor of 2019. O'Brien also earned MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors on Wednesday, April 10, which is awarded to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during the week's competition. The Madison, Wis. native posted a .471 average and .882 slugging percentage through five games last week. He crushed two home runs and a double, recording seven RBIs and six runs scored. He also drew four walks and was hit twice to record a .609 on-base percentage on the week. O'Brien is currently ranked second in the MAC in home runs (5) and sixth in slugging percentage (.571) and is on a five-game hitting streak dating back to April 3.
Central Michigan
Central Michigan will enter the weekend 24-8 overall and 7-2 in conference play, winning all three of its MAC series this season. The Chippewas swept Northern Illinois and took two of three games from both Ohio and Ball State.
The Chippewas are perfect through three games against Power Five opponents, defeating Pitt, Notre Dame and Michigan State this season. Central Michigan is slated to host Michigan State for a midweek matchup May 14.
On the season, the Central Michigan offense has averaged nearly 11 hits and nine runs per game, outscoring its opponents 281-150. The Chippewas have knocked 99 extra-base hits, including 69 doubles and 13 triples, while drawing 211 walks and 43 hit batters for a team batting average of .307.
The Central Michigan pitching staff has posted a collective ERA of 4.19, holding opponents to a .261 average. The battery has totaled 235 strikeouts while walking 119 through 32 games this season.
The programs last met in the MAC Tournament a season ago and will face off for the 114th time Friday evening. The Flashes defeated the Chippewas 9-8 to advance to the semifinal game before going on to win the title. In the regular season, the Flashes won the series 2-1 in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
The 2019 Kent State Baseball Season is brought to you by Hometown Bank. Hometown Bank and Kent State Baseball – A Winning Team. There's no place like home.
