Flashes Swing Past Huskies

Sunday, April 21

DeKalb, IL

1:00 p.m./12:00 CST

Kent State University

18-19, 0

Northern Illinois University

12-27, 0

Kent State

Northern Illinois

Photo by: David Dermer

4/21/2019 4:43:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. – The Kent State University baseball team (18-19, 7-6 MAC) notched eight hits in a 10-3 victory over Northern Illinois (12-27, 8-7 MAC) to win the Mid-American Conference series 2-1 at Ralph McKinzie Field Sunday afternoon. Senior Kian O'Brien accounted for six of Kent State's ten runs, going 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.

O'Brien reached base three times on the day, collecting a double, triple and walk to lead the offense. Junior Cam Touchette also notched a pair of hits and a walk, tallying two RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Collin Mathews recorded a multi-RBI game with a pair of sacrifice fly balls.

Redshirt freshman Trevor Pittman (1-0) picked up his first career win, pitching 5.0 innings in his fifth start. He did not give up an earned run with just two allowed and six punch outs on the day. Freshman Luke Albright earned his first career save, tossing 3.0 innings out of the bull pen.

Scoreless until the third inning, the Flashes struck first, scoring on an NIU defensive miscue. Touchette followed with an RBI-single to left field to give the Flashes a 2-0 lead.

Mathews came up with a sacrifice fly to center field in the next inning to extend the lead, before Northern Illinois managed its first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth to bring the score to 4-1.

The Flashes secured the win in the top of the fifth, pouring on five runs on four hits to bring the score to 8-1. Freshman Justin Kirby led off the inning with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew was plunked before Touchette singled through the right side to score Kirby for his second RBI of the day. Senior Pete Schuler followed with an RBI-single to right that scored Carew. O'Brien then legged out a two-run triple to force an NIU pitching change. Mathews rounded out the inning with his second sacrifice fly of the day.

In his next at bat an inning later, O'Brien extended the Flashes' lead to 10-1 with a two-run double down the left field line.

The Huskies managed to score two more runs on the day, but the Flashes walked away with a 10-3 win.

The Flashes will return to Schoonover Stadium for a midweek matchup against Canisius Wednesday, April 24 at 4 p.m.