Flashes Outlast Sycamores in 10 Innings

Saturday, February 15

Port Charlotte, FL

Noon

Kent State University

1-1

Indiana State University

0-2

Kent State

Indiana State

Photo by: Austin Mariasy

2/15/2020 5:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL- Patrick Ferguson's infield single scored Ben Carew and four Kent State pitchers shutout Indiana State over the final seven innings in a 4-3 victory in 10 innings on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the Snowbird Classic.

Collin Romel, Zach Schultz, Max Rippl, and Tyler Drabick combined to shutout the Sycamores, scattering four hits over that span. The strong relief effort allowed the Flashes to erase an early 3-1 Indiana State lead and eventually secure the extra inning victory. The Sycamores scored in each of the first three innings before Kent State quieted the Indiana State bats. The Sycamores used small ball, a pair of walks and a two-out single to take the early lead. The Flashes followed suit in the second using a Justin Kirby walk, a sacrifice and the first of two Ferguson rbi singles to tie the game at one. Indiana State scored solo tallies in the second and third, using a pair of doubles and multiple sacrifices to push across the two runs.

Neither team was able to do much over the middle three innings, with both teams getting a runner to second base, but no further. Things got going for the Flashes in the seventh. Mack Timbrook, Collin Mathews and Patrick Ferguson all singled to load the bases with nobody out. After a strikeout, Kevin Dobos made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly and Grant Vera tied the game with a timely single up the middle. Both teams had chances in the eighth with Ben Carew singling, stealing second but getting stranded on third. The Sycamores got runners on first and second with nobody out, but bunted into a double play to silence the threat.

In the 10th, Carew and Michael Turner both singled and Carew was pushed to third on a fielder's choice. After Mathews was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Ferguson came through with his third single of the day and his second run batted in, Carew scored to give the Flashes their first lead of the game. Tyler Drabick pitched a scoreless 10th, pitching around a single and a walk to earn the save.

Max Rippl picked up the win with Drabick earning the save. The Flashes improved to 1-1 on the season and will go for the weekend "series" win on Sunday against Saint Joe's. The Hawks are 1-2 on the season, beating Ohio State but dropping games to Pitt and Iowa. Ryan Lane is scheduled to get the Sunday start for the Flashes. The opening pitch is set for 10 a.m.