Flashes Defeat Pitt in Walk-Off Fashion

Wednesday, April 17

Kent, OH

6:00 p.m.

Kent State University

16-18

University of Pittsburgh

11-25

Pittsburgh

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

4/17/2019 11:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio –The Kent State University baseball team recorded its first walk-off win since April 2017, defeating Pitt 9-8 at Schoonover Stadium Wednesday evening. Senior Pavin Parks recorded the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth in addition to earning the win on the mound for the Flashes.

Parks led the Kent State offense, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a double while scoring two runs with two RBIs. He transitioned to the mound in the top of the ninth inning of a tie ballgame after starting the game at shortstop and retired the Panthers in order to pick up the win.

A back-and-forth battle from the start, the Panthers pushed across a run in the top of the first inning, but the Flashes responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.

Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew reached on a fielding error to start the third inning and junior Cam Touchette followed with a single up the middle. Sophomore Michael Turner knocked in Carew to tally Kent State's first run, and senior Kian O'Brien recorded a sacrifice fly to score Touchette a batter later. Parks then launched his fifth home run of the season to left field to round out the inning with the Flashes ahead 3-1.

The Kent State lead didn't last long as the Panthers picked up three runs in the top of the third and added a run in the fourth to take a 5-3 advantage.

The Flashes responded with a big five-run inning in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead, 8-5. Parks doubled and forced a Pitt pitching change to spark the rally. Freshman Justin Kirby reached on a fielder's choice that did not result in an out before senior Josh Hollander was plunked to load the bases. Redshirt sophomore Alex Ronnebaum chopped a single through the right side to score Parks and freshman Collin Mathews recorded an RBI on an infield ground ball in the next at bat. Carew followed with a sacrifice fly to right field and Touchette legged out an infield single that scored Ronnebaum. Turner wrapped up the rally with an RBI-double to left-center that scored Touchette.

Pitt cut into the deficit in the top of the next inning, soaring a two-run home run to right-center field to bring the score to 8-7 in favor of the Flashes. The score remained until the Panthers tied the game 8-8 in the top of the eighth inning.

Parks made his tenth appearance on the bump for the Flashes in the top of the ninth inning, retiring the Panthers in order and giving Kent State the chance for a walk-off victory.

Freshman Grant Vera singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carew. Touchette and Turner were then intentionally walked to load the bases. The Panthers recorded an out at the plate on a fielder's choice to bring Parks to the plate. He then lasered a single to right field, scoring Touchette and winning the game 9-8.

The Flashes tallied 15 hits on the night, seeing four players in addition to Parks record multi-hit games. Touchette went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored while Turner also added three hits with two RBIs and two walks. Kirby and Ronnebaum also added two hits and a run apiece in the win.

Sophomore Jack Zimmerman made his first start of the season on the hill for the Flashes recording a strike out. Redshirt-freshman Peyton Deats, redshirt senior Chris Martin and junior Zach Schultz each made appearances in relief before Parks closed out the game.

Next up, the Flashes will travel to DeKalb, Ill. to continue Mid-American Conference play with a three-game set at Northern Illinois Friday through Sunday, April 19-21.