Kent State University
University of Toledo
Baseball Prepares for a Busy Final Weekend at Schoonover Stadium
5/2/2019 1:02:00โฏPM | Baseball
Game 1 (Friday, May 3): Kent State Radio | Video | Live Stats
Game 2 (Saturday, May 4): Kent State Radio | Live Stats
Game 3 (Sunday, May 5): Kent State Radio | Live Stats
KENT, Ohio โThe Kent State University baseball team (22-20, 9-7 MAC) is set to host Toledo (15-27, 3-13 MAC) for its final home weekend series at Schoonover Stadium. The games will be played Friday through Sunday, May 3-5 and are scheduled for 6:00, 4:00 and 1:00 p.m., respectively.ย
Aside from the games, it will be a busy weekend at Schoonover Stadium highlighted by returning alumni and both Commencement and Senior Day celebrations. All events are listed below:
Friday, May 3:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Baby Blue Shirsey Giveaway to the first 100 fans
Saturday, May 4:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย On-field Commencement Ceremony (prior to the game)
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Stadium Cup Giveaway to the first 150 fans
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Dollar Dog Day
Sunday, May 5:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย On-field Senior Recognition (prior to the game)
The Flashes are coming off their fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference series victory at Ohio University last weekend and a 9-6 win over Dayton on Tuesday. Kent State remains in fourth place in the conference standings with a 9-7 record, coming in behind Ball State (12-4), Central Michigan (13-5) and Miami (12-6) in order.
Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew earned Kent State's fourth straight MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week award, as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon. The Appleton, Wis. native is currently on an eight-game hitting streak dating back to April 19 and has reached base in each of the last 23 games. Carew leads the Kent State offense and ranks 23rdย nationally with a .395 batting average while also ranking 24thย in Division I in hits per game (1.57), 28thย in hits (66) and 38thย in stolen bases (20).
The Kent State offense has exploded after a quiet start to the season, boosting its team batting average to .286 with a .443 slugging percentage. The Flashes have averaged more than seven runs and 10 hits per game this season and had a six-game streak of scoring 10 runs or more April 19-27. Kent State has slugged past opponents using the long ball, tallying 45 home runs on the year. The Flashes have reached streaks of seven or more games launching at least one home run twice this season, including an eight-game streak April 7-27.
Toledo
Toledo has struggled in the 2019 campaign, entering the weekend 15-27 overall and 3-13 in conference games. The Rockets are currently in last place in the MAC standings.
Despite their record, the Rockets offense has posted a .276 team batting average with a .386 slugging percentage. Toledo has averaged more than six runs and nearly 10 hits per game this season, knocking 108 extra-base hits. The Rockets are patient at the plate, drawing 198 walks and 55 hit batters, and effective with runners in scoring position, driving in 231 of the 255 runs they've scored this year.
The Toledo pitching staff has worked collectively as seven arms have pitched more than 20.0 innings. The battery has totaled 294 strikeouts, but have allowed opponents to hit .298 for a 6.70 staff ERA.
The two programs last met a year ago for a regular season conference set and will face off for the 168thย time Friday evening with the Flashes leading the all-time series 100-66-1. The Flashes swept the Rockets in last season's series with scores of 3-1, 4-2 and 13-3, respectively.
The 2019 Kent State Baseball Season is brought to you by Hometown Bank. Hometown Bank and Kent State Baseball โ A Winning Team. There's no place like home.
