Iowa Spoils Opening Day for Flashes

Friday, February 14

Port Charlotte, FL

4:00 p.m.

Kent State University

0-1

University of Iowa

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Kent State

IOWA

Photo by: David Dermer

2/14/2020 7:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL- The Iowa Hawkeyes spoiled opening day for the Golden Flashes, winning a 3-1 pitcher's duel on Friday afternoon in the first of three games at the Snowbird Classic.

Luke Albright was the tough-luck loser in Friday's opener, striking out five across five innings and allowing just three hits. Both teams collected five hits, with five different players recording their first hits of the season for Kent State. Nick Elsen drove in the lone run for the Golden Flashes, singling home Grant Vera in the seventh inning.

Iowa scratched out solo tallies in the third, fifth and added an insurance run in the eighth. Brendan Sher paced the Hawkeyes' offense scoring two runs and chopping a double down the left field line for Iowa's only extra base hit.

The Flashes had opportunities in the first and fourth to get on the board. Ben Carew started the ball game with a walk and a steal to get into scoring position, but a pair of strike outs and a pop-out ended the threat. Michael Turner started the fourth with a double and advanced to third on a hustle single by Cam Touchette, but the Flashes couldn't push the run home, stranding both runners after a ground out. Kent State left six on base in total on Friday afternoon.

Albright was joined by Trevor Pittman, Jack Zimmerman and Tyler Drabick, who combined for three innings of two-hit ball. Zimmerman allowed one unearned run in the eighth, a victim of a pair of Kent State errors.

Kent State will be back in action on Saturday, taking on Indiana State on Saturday afternoon. Collin Romel is the scheduled starter, first pitch is set for noon.