Kent State University
Winthrop University
Flashes Look to Knock Winthrop from Ranks of Unbeaten
2/27/2020 2:16:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO- The Golden Flashes (4-3) head back south this weekend, traveling to Rock Hill, South Carolina for a three-game set with the Winthrop Eagles (8-0).
The three-game series will begin with a 4 p.m. first pitch on Friday, followed by 3 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State rebounded nicely to win the final two games of last weekend's series against Florida Gulf Coast, winning Saturday's contest 9-2 and 4-0 on Sunday. The Flashes' offense got a spark from outfielder Eric Wentz. After singling in a pinch-hit appearance on Friday, Wentz got the start on Saturday and Sunday. He responded by going 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, a pair of steals, a pair driven in and three runs scored.
Redshirt junior Ben Carew is picking up where he left off from last year's All-America season. In 2019, Carew hit .406 and is on a similar clip this season. Carew is hitting .400 (10-25) through seven games this season, he has been especially effective in a lead-off role where has gone 6-for-7 so far this season.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Winthrop has gotten off to an exceptional start, winning their first eight games. The Eagles swept Maine in the season-opening series and followed that up with a four-game sweep of Canisius and a mid-week win at Davidson.
Winthrop has scored 57 runs in their first eight games and have done with a very balanced attack. Five players have at least five runs driven in so far this season. Scout McFalls has been the table setter for the offense, leading the team with 11 hits this season, scoring a team-high nine times and stealing three bases.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Kent State: Luke Albright (RHP) (0-2, 3.27) vs Winthrop: Thad Harris (LHP) (2-0, 1.46)
The Flashes will send sophomore Luke Albright to the mound for the third-straight Friday night. Albright has thrown well in each of his first two starts, going five innings against Iowa and six against Florida Gulf Coast, allowing two earned runs each time. Albright has averaged better than a strike out an inning this season and in his Kent State career. Batters are hitting just .205 off of him so far this season.
Harris has been sharp as well to start the season, going six innings in both outings against Maine and Canisius. The southpaw allowed just one earned run each time, but the Golden Griffins did tag Harris for four unearned runs. Harris has swing-and-miss stuff, striking out 12 in his 12 innings of work this season, against three walks.
Saturday: Kent State: Collin Romel (LHP) (1-0, 3.00) vs Winthrop: Daniel Blair (RHP) (1-0, 0.96)
Romel is looking for his third-straight solid outing on Saturday. The lefty threw five shutout innings against Florida Gulf Coast last weekend, striking out six and allowing just three hits. In nine innings so far this season, Romel has surrendered just six hits and two walks, hitters have just a .200 average against him this season.
Blair has been equally as impressive this season for the Eagles. In his nine innings of work, the right hander has allowed just two runs, one earned and four hits. Blair was especially strong in his last outing versus Canisius, allowing one unearned run and three hits while striking out eight in five-plus innings.
Sunday: Kent State: Ryan Lane (RHP) (2-0, 2.03) vs Winthrop: Tyler Jones (RHP) (0-0, 2.57)
Lane heads back to the mound for Sunday's finale fresh off his best collegiate start. The reigning MAC pitcher of the week went 8.1 shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out 10. The righty has struck out 14 in his 13.1 innings of work this season against 10 hits and zero walks.
Jones is slated for his third appearance of the season and his second start. The sophomore threw two innings of relief and earned the save against Maine before making the Sunday start against Canisius. On the season, Jones has surrendered two earned runs, five hits and struck out 10 in seven innings of work.
SERIES HISTORY
The Golden Flashes and Eagles are quite familiar with each other, with the three games marking the 38th, 39th, and 40th times the teams will have met. Kent State has had the better of the previous 37 meetings, winning 22. The two teams met last in 2018 with Winthrop winning game one before Kent State took the final two games of the three-game series.
FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend's series will not have a video stream. Winthrop will provide a radio feed as well as live stats for each of the three games. You can also follow @KentStBaseball on Twitter for updates and information.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kent State will be back in action on Wednesday, making a stop in Morgantown to take on West Virginia on their way to next weekend's series at Liberty. First pitch on Wednesday is set for 4 p.m.
