Kent State University
Northern Illinois University
Flashes Host Huskies in MAC Opener
3/18/2021 11:28:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO- Mid-American Conference play starts this weekend for the Golden Flashes as they welcome in the Northern Illinois Huskies for a four-game weekend series.
The MAC has moved away from the conference tournament this season, with the regular-season champion earning the automatic bid. Teams will now play four-game series with scheduled single, nine-inning games on Fridays and Sundays and two seven-inning games as part of Saturday double headers. The Flashes and Huskies will play Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday's double header will start at 1 p.m. and Sunday's finale will also start at one.
This weekend's baseball series will have limited fan attendance. All spring semester events will follow university and local health official guidelines outlined in our spring attendance policy.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State improved to 5-1 at home last weekend, taking two of three from the Seton Hall Pirates. It was a balanced offensive attack last weekend as seven different Golden Flashes had at least two runs driven in over the three-game series. Justin Miknis headlined the balanced attack, going 6-for-12 over the weekend with seven driven in and five runs scored. The redshirt freshman had a bases-clearing triple in Friday's victory and a grand slam in Saturday's win. Miknis was named the MAC Player of the Week for his efforts.
On the mound, Luke Albright continued his strong start to the season. On Saturday, Albright went six innings, allowing four hits one run and striking out six and improving to 3-1 on the season. The righty dropped his earned run average to 1.99 after his solid performance.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
Northern Illinois comes into the weekend at 1-10 on the season. They went 0-4 last weekend against Kansas State and Rice in a weekend round-robin hosted by Rice. The offense has been held to 34 runs through 11 games and the Huskies are hitting .218 as a team. Kam Smith is leading the offense with a .368 average (14-38) with four extra base hits and six driven in.
On the mound, Brandon McPherson has led the staff, pitching to a 3.63 earned run average over 17 and a third innings. The righty is averaging nearly a strikeout an inning and holding hitters to a .229 average. McPhearson went eight innings last Saturday allowing just one run and striking out nine but getting a no decision.
FOLLOW ALONG
All four games will be streamed this weekend via Box Cast. Live Stats will also be provided. The links are available on the baseball schedule page.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Golden Flashes will wrap up their non-conference slate next weekend with a home-and-home with the Dayton Flyers. Saturday the teams will play a doubleheader in Dayton before returning to Kent for a Sunday twin bill.
