Swingin’ in the Rain

Saturday, May 4

Kent, OH

4:00 p.m.

Kent State University

24-20, 0

University of Toledo

15-29, 0

Toledo

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

5/4/2019 8:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The Kent State University baseball team (24-20, 11-7 MAC) earned its second win of the weekend, swinging past Toledo (15-29, 3-15 MAC) 11-5 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Schoonover Stadium. Sophomore Michael Turner led the Kent State offense with four hits and four RBIs while junior John Matthews earned the win on the bump, shutting down the Rockets for 6.0 innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts.

Prior to the first pitch, the Flashes also celebrated the team's five players receiving degrees in the Class of 2019 with an on-field commencement ceremony: Josh Hollander, Chris Martin, John Schreiber, Pete Schuler and Joe Watts.

Kent State tallied 11 runs on 11 hits on the day, marking the 21^sttime the Flashes have clubbed 10 or more hits in a game and the 17^thgame scoring 10 or more runs this season. Turner accounted for six of the Flashes' runs on the day, going 4-for-5 at the plate with 4 runs driven in and two runs scored. Senior Pavin Parks recorded his 11^thmulti-hit game this year with a pair of hits, two RBIS and two runs. Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew extended his hitting streak to ten games and scored twice, reaching base in his 25^thconsecutive game.

The Flashes jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on RBI-singles by both Turner and Parks.

The Rockets quickly tied the game back at 2-2 in the next frame with a two-run home run to right field.

Toledo held the Flashes scoreless in the bottom of the second and went on to take a 4-2 lead in the next inning, stringing together a single and an RBI-triple to force Kent State to bring in Matthews from the bullpen.

The Flashes responded with four runs in the bottom of the third to take command of the lead. Redshirt sophomores Alex Ronnebaum and Ben Carew led off with singles before junior Cam Touchette loaded the bases with a walk. Turner collected his second and third RBI of the day with a two-run single ripped up the middle. O'Brien grounded into a double play in the next at bat that allowed Touchette to score. Senior Pavin Parks followed with a solo home run blasted nearly to Allerton Fields beyond the right field wall, his ninth of the season.

Kent State added to its lead in the fifth inning with an RBI-single up the middle off the bat of Turner.

The Rockets scored its final run of the day in the top of the seventh inning, knocking a solo home run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Turner knocked a two-out double to center field and scored a batter later as O'Brien laced a triple off the wall in left field. Parks was intentionally walked and freshman Collin Mathews drew a walk to load the bases. Senior Pete Schuler collected an RBI, drawing a walk and Hollander followed with a two-run single clubbed through the left side to bring the final score to 11-5.

Redshirt freshman Trevor Pittman made his seventh start, tossing 2.0 innings in his 13^thappearance of the season.

Matthews (5-5) dazzled in long relief retiring the first 14 batters he faced in order upon entering the game in the top of the third. He allowed just three batters to reach base on two hits and a fielder's choice in the remainder of the game, stumbling just once in the seventh inning when the Rockets knocked a solo home run. His 10 strikeouts are the most by a Kent State pitcher this season.

Freshman Max Rippl closed out the game in the top of the ninth, striking out the final two batters of the day.

The Flashes will go for its first three-game sweep of 2019 and celebrate Senior Day, wrapping up the series against Toledo at Schoonover Stadium Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m.