Duncan Collects 200th Win in Series Opener

Friday, April 5

Kent, OH

6:00 p.m.

Kent State University

12-15, 0

Western Michigan University

7-19, 0

Western Michigan

Kent State

Duncan Collects 200th Win in Series Opener

4/5/2019 10:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Head Baseball Coach Jeff Duncan collected his 200^thcareer Friday night at Schoonover Stadium as the Kent State baseball team (12-15, 2-3 MAC) powered past Western Michigan (7-19, 1-4 MAC) in the series opener. Senior Kian O'Brien and junior Alex Ronnebaum each blasted home runs in the Flashes' second Mid-American Conference win.

"I just want to thank all of the great teams, players and coaches for such a fun ride," Duncan said about the milestone. "I would like to thank Joel Nielsen for the opportunity to work at such a great university with a great coaching staff that works tirelessly. I especially want to thank Mike Birkbeck as we have been together for the last five years, and Derek Simmons and Tony Caldwell who have been instrumental in the last 52 wins leading up to this moment."

The Kent State offense notched 12 hits on the night with three Flashes recording multi-hit games. O'Brien led the Flashes, going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, two runs scored and a home run on the night. Freshman Justin Kirby tallied two hits with three RBIs and two runs scored while redshirt sophomore also knocked two singles.

"I thought the guys played with a lot of energy and that was really important for us," Duncan added. "I thought they had good focus all nine innings. I'm proud of that. We just have keep building on that and take it into tomorrow and take a series."

Senior Connor Wollersheim picked up his second win of the season, starting on the mound for the Flashes. In 6.0 innings of work, the Neenah, Wis. native fanned a season-high nine batters. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Drabick collected the save, spinning 2.1 innings and striking out three.

The Flashes jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead over the Broncos with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line from Kirby.

The Broncos responded with a run of their own in the next frame, but the Flashes poured on five runs in the bottom of the third to secure the win.

Senior Pete Schuler started the rally, wearing a pitch with one out. Sophomore Michael Turner followed with a double to right center to bring up Kirby, who recorded his third RBI in just two swings with a single to center field that scored Schuler. Senior Pavin Parks knocked in a run on a single to right field before O'Brien soared his third home run of the season over the wall in left field to bring the score to 7-1 through three innings.

The score remained until the top of the seventh inning, when the Broncos cut into the deficit with two runs on three hits.

Kent State collected its final runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh with Ronnebaum's colossal two-run home run crushed over the wall in right field.

The Broncos came short of a comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth for a final score of 9-5.

"I thought we swung the bat really well," Duncan stated. "That was outstanding. We were on time for fastballs and we adjusted to everything else. We had a mentality to swing the bat and I think that's huge for us going forward."

The Flashes will continue the series against Western Michigan at Schoonover Stadium on Saturday, April 6 at 4 p.m.