Flashes Drop A Pair to NIU

Saturday, March 20

1:00 PM

Kent State University

6-7, 0

Northern Illinois University

3-10, 0

Northern Illinois

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

3/20/2021 5:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, OH- Kent State found themselves on the wrong end of a pair of seven-inning pitchers' duels on Saturday, falling 2-1 and 3-0 to Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Schoonover Stadium.

GAME ONE | NIU 2 Kent State 1

The opener on Saturday started well for the Flashes. Luke Albright struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 inning and Cam Touchette opened the bottom of the first with a double and was pushed to third on a Ben Carew bunt single. Michael Turner brought in Touchette on a 4-6-3 double play, giving Kent State a 1-0 lead.

Northern Illinois would answer back in the second, taking advantage of an Albright throwing error. The miscue extended the inning to Brandon Johnson, who brought home the unearned run and tied the game at one. Jack Blazevich followed with a run-scoring single to make in 2-1 NIU.

Kent State would threaten a couple of times but held off the scoreboard. In the fifth, Eric Wentz walked and stole second but the Huskies got a strike out, caught stealing double play as Wentz was nabbed trying to steal third on a Justin Kirby strikeout. The Golden Flashes got two on in the sixth and got a runner to third in the seventh, but could not bring home the tying run.

Luke Albright took the tough luck loss, going all seven innings. The righty allowed just the two hits in the second, no earned runs and struck out eight against two walks.

GAME TWO | NIU 3 Kent State 0

Colin Romel got the ball in game two on Saturday and was also a tough luck loser. The lefty went five innings, allowing three hits and three runs, one earned while striking out seven against two walks. The lone earned run came in the first as Jake Dunham hit a two-out solo home run to put Northern Illinois up 1-0.

The Flashes nearly tied the game in the second. Collin Mathews singled to start the game, went to second on a sacrifice and to third on a wild pitch. Mack Timbrook sent a flair down the left field line that NIU shortstop Paddy McKermitt lept over a diving teammate and made the catch to retire the side and keep Kent State off the scoreboard.

The Huskies tacked on two in the third. NIU took advantage of an error and a pair of walks to load the bases, with two strikes, Kam Smith singled through the right side and plated the two unearned runs to make it 3-0.

Kent State could never get the big hit they needed on Saturday. Justin Miknis was stranded at third in the fifth and Cam Touchette was caught stealing to end the sixth.

The two losses drop the Golden Flashes to 6-8 on the season and 0-3 in conference play. Northern Illinois moves to 4-10 on the year and 3-0 in the MAC. The two teams will meet up again on Sunday for the finale of the four-game series. First pitch from Schoonover Stadium is set for 1 p.m.