Kent State University
27-20, 0
Bowling Green
14-32, 0
Flashes Split Saturday Twin Bill at Bowling Green
5/11/2019 6:45:00 PM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio –The Kent State University baseball team (27-21, 12-8 MAC) split a twin bill with Bowling Green (15-32, 7-17 MAC) Saturday afternoon to close out its Mid-American Conference series at Stellar Field in Bowling Green, Ohio. After bludgeoning the Falcons 18-9 in the first game of the series Friday afternoon, the Flashes won the first game of Saturday's double header 4-3 before dropping the series finale 6-2.
Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew tallied three hits between the two games to extend his hitting streak to 14. He has reached base safely in each of the last 29 games.
Game 1: Kent State 4, Bowling Green 3
The Flashes eked out a 4-3 victory over the Falcons in the first game of the twin bill, outhitting Bowling Green 10-7. Junior Cam Touchette and senior Kian O'Brien led the Kent State offense as Touchette went 3-for-4 and scored three of the Flashes' four runs and O'Brien also added two runs, driving in Touchette twice.
Freshman Justin Kirby belted his eighth home run of the season and sophomore Michael Turner recorded his seventh RBI of the series.
Junior John Matthews recorded his third consecutive win on the mound for the Flashes, tossing 4.2 innings in relief, fanning six. Junior Zach Shultz started on the bump, spinning 4.1 innings and striking out three.
The Flashes struck first in the top of the first inning as Touchette notched a one-out single and advanced to third on an error by the Falcon pitcher and eventually scored on an RBI-ground out by Turner.
Kent State added a run in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Touchette again reached base with one out via a walk and stole second. He advanced to third on a productive at bat by Turner, who grounded out to second base, and finally scored on an RBI-single to center field by O'Brien.
The Falcons responded in the bottom half of the third, managing a run on three hits and a balk to bring the score to 2-1, Flashes.
After a three up and three down fourth inning by both teams, the Flashes again added a run in the fifth when Kirby belted a solo home run to left field through wind blowing in from center field.
The Falcons added a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a wild pitch, a passed ball and a Kent State defensive miscue.
Kent State and Bowling Green again exchanged a run apiece in the seventh inning as O'Brien drove in a run with a single to left field following a one-out triple by Touchette. The Falcons rounded out the game with a run to bring the final score to 4-3.
Game 2: Bowling Green 6, Kent State 2
The Kent State offense was quieted in the series finale as the Falcons forced the Flashes to settle for a 2-1 series victory with a 6-2 win. The Flashes out-hit Bowling Green 11-7, however the Flashes stumbled with three defensive miscues.
The Flashes fell behind 6-0 through the first six innings, finally responding with a run in the top of the seventh inning to break up the shut out. Freshman Collin Mathews reached on a two-out single and scored from first base on double to left field off the bat of redshirt sophomore Kevin Dobos.
Kent State scored its final run of the day in the top of the eighth as Touchette again singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Turner followed with a double to left field to score Touchette and record his eighth RBI of the three-game set.
The Flashes loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth but fell short with a final score of 6-2.
Redshirt freshman Trevor Pittman suffered the loss on the mound for the Flashes, pitching 2.0 innings to start the game, striking out two while allowing four runs. Freshman Luke Albright recorded another strong performance in relief, striking out a career-high ten batters in 6.0 innings of work, allowing just two runs and a single walk.
Up next, Kent State will play its final home game at Schoonover Stadium for the 2019 season, hosting Wright State on Tuesday, May 14, at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matthews, John (6-5)
L: HAYS, Tyler (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Mathews, Collin 1
3B: Touchette, Cam 1
HR: Kirby, Justin 1
RBI: Turner, Michael 1 ; O'Brien, Kian 2 ; Kirby, Justin 1
SH: Hollander, Josh 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Touchette, Cam 3 ; Kirby, Justin 1
SB: Touchette, Cam 1
Batting:
2B: WILLIAMS, R.J. 1
RBI: WILLIAMS, R.J. 1 ; MINORIK, Riley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMS, R.J. 1 ; DOHANOS, Dylan 1 ; MARTINEZ, Gama 1
SB: WILLIAMS, R.J. 1 ; DOHANOS, Dylan 1
CS: SCOTT, Jeff 1
HBP: SCOTT, Jeff 1
