Eight Golden Flashes Garner MAC Baseball Postseason Accolades
5/21/2019 1:46:00 PM | Baseball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Freshman Justin Kirby highlighted the Kent State University baseball team's Mid-American Conference postseason awards, named Freshman of the Year. The Flashes also had three players named First Team All-MAC, three named Second Team All-MAC and two named to the All-Defensive Team as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm just very proud of this group and really everyone on the team," Head Coach Jeff Duncan said. "Everybody is involved and plays a role in everyone's individual success and the success of the team. This group has worked extremely hard and it's really neat to see them reaping the benefits of that hard work. This group has been through adversity, especially early this season, and to see them come out on top individually is extremely rewarding as a coach."
Justin Kirby, OF – Freshman of the Year
Kirby turned in a strong rookie campaign, starting in 35 of his 40 appearances and posting a .317 average. He led the conference and ranked 53rd in the nation with a .640 overall slugging percentage, belting nine home runs, 14 doubles and two triples. In conference play, the Alpharetta, Ga. native led the MAC in slugging (.809), doubles (13) and home runs (8) and ranked in the top-10 in batting average (.371) and runs scored (26).
Kirby was named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball in addition to the MAC Player of the Week by both the conference and College Sports Madness April 22 after becoming the first Golden Flash to hit three home runs in a single game since 2005.
"Justin is a guy who is not only extremely talented, but he is a guy who brings a lot of energy and work ethic to his game on a daily basis," Duncan explained. "This does not surprise me based on the work he was putting in all the way back in the fall."
Ben Carew, OF – First Team All-MAC, All-Defensive Team
Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew garnered both First Team All-MAC and All-Defensive Team honors. Starting in center field and at the top of the Kent State lineup, Carew led the conference and ranked seventh in the nation with a .414 batting average – the first time a Golden Flash has recorded a .400 average since 2001. He finished the regular season eighth in Division I in hits per game (1.67) and ninth in hits (87), in addition to ranking in the top-50 in four other offensive categories.
Overall, Carew led the MAC in batting average and hits while ranking second in on-base percentage (.481), third in both runs scored (58) and stolen bases (24) and eighth in slugging percentage (.538). In conference play, the Appleton, Wis. native led the MAC in batting average (.435), runs scored (34) and hits (47). He enters the postseason on an 18-game hitting streak and has reached base in each of the last 33 games.
Kian O'Brien, 3B – First Team All-MAC
Senior Kian O'Brien worked his way into a starting position and has become an offensive spark in the heart of the lineup. In his second season in the Blue and Gold, he started 40 games and played in 48, posting a .317 average with seven home runs and 41 RBIs. The Madison, Wis. native earned both MAC Player of the Week and Scholar-Athlete of the Week April 8.
In conference play this season, he led the MAC in RBIs (36) and ranked third in slugging percentage (.684), fourth in batting average (.389), fifth in home runs (5), sixth in hits (37) and seventh in doubles (9).
Michael Turner, C (At-Large) – First Team All-MAC
Sophomore Michael Turner exploded offensively in the second half of the season, earning back-to-back MAC Player of the Week honors May 6 and 13. He belted two grand slams this season, both lifting the Flashes out of a deficit to go on to win.
Turner finished the regular season with a .366 average, tallying 49 hits, 12 doubles, three long balls and 27 RBIs. In conference play, the Warren, Ohio native led the MAC in sacrifice flies (5) and ranked second in RBIs (32) and third in batting average (.391).
Luke Albright, RP – Second Team All-MAC
Freshman Luke Albright dazzled on the mound in his first collegiate season, turning in a 4-1 record in 14 appearances. He maintained a 2.81 ERA, tallying two saves and striking out 54. In just his second career start, Albright earned a win with 5.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts as part of Kent State's first shut out of the season and first combined two-hitter since 2017.
In MAC games, Albright led the conference in ERA (1.47), opposing batting average (.167), fewest hits allowed (20), fewest runs allowed (6) and fewest earned runs allowed (6).
Alex Ronnebaum, DH – Second Team All-MAC
Finding his way into the lineup by playing multiple positions, redshirt sophomore Alex Ronnebaum finished his first regular season in the Blue and Gold with a .470 slugging percentage. He knocked five home runs and nine doubles for 28 RBIs in his 40 appearances.
In conference play, Ronnebaum ranked in the top-10 in slugging percentage (.646) and home runs (5).
Cam Touchette, OF – Second Team All-MAC
Junior Cam Touchette is a consistent offensive threat in the Kent State lineup, batting at a .346 clip with a .522 slugging percentage and .442 on-base percentage. Continually finding a way on base, Touchette ranked in the top-50 in Division I in stolen bases per game and runs per game, tallying 55 hits, 25 walks, 44 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.
Overall, Touchette ranked in the top-10 of the MAC in stolen bases, batting average and on-base percentage. In conference play, he was among the MAC's leaders in stolen bases (12), runs (30), on-base percentage (.471) and batting average (.360).
John Matthews, P – All-Defensive Team
One of Kent State's go-to pitchers in both a starting and relief capacity, junior John Matthews led the Flashes with seven pitching wins this season. He has earned a win in each of his last four appearances.
His 88 strikeouts and 25 batters struck out looking ranks third in the conference.
In conference play, Matthews ranked second in wins (5), third in both opposing batting average (.203) and third in batters struck out looking (19) and fifth in strikeouts (55).
Up next, the Flashes will begin the postseason at the MAC Tournament, playing as the No. 3 seed. Kent State will face No. 6 Ohio in the first round at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio Wednesday, May 22 at 12:30 p.m.
