Kent State University
Bowling Green
Golden Flashes Head to BG For MAC Road Opener
4/1/2021 12:08:00โฏPM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO- The Golden Flashes (8-11, 1-3) head west to Bowling Green this weekend to take on the Falcons (8-10, 6-2) in a key four-game conference series.
ABOUT THE FLASHES
Kent State wrapped up the non-conference slate last weekend against the Dayton Flyers. The Flashes took the second game of the four-game set 11-3, behind six shutout innings from Luke Albright and a grand slam from Nick Elsen. This four-game set is the road conference opener for the Golden Flashes.
ALBRIGHT, ALBRIGHT, ALBRIGHT
With his six scoreless innings against the Flyers, Albright extended his scoreless innings streak to 11. The righty is second in the Mid-American Conference with a 1.26 earned run average. He ranks near the top in the conference in wins (1st, 4), e.r.a. (2nd , 1.26), strikeouts (6th, 40)ย and opponent's batting average (7th, .172).
HEART OF THE ORDER
Collin Mathews and Michael Turner have helped pace the Kent State offense this season. Against the Flyers, Mathews had the second four-hit game for the Flashes this season (Cam Touchette). Like Albright, Mathews is among the conference leaders in several categories including average (3rd, .373) slugging, (4th, .670), hits (8th, 22) and runs batted in (8th, 15). Turner has provided the power in the Kent State lineup, leading the team and ranking second in the MAC with five homers.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN
This will be the home opener for the Falcons. Bowling Green went on the road in the MAC in the first two weekends. They took three-of-four from both Ohio and Akron in the first two weekends.
Their hot start to the conference season has been on the strength of their pitching. The Falcons own the top team earned run average in conference play at 2.57.ย Junior Gage Schenk has been the ace of the staff, going 2-0 with a 0.64 earned run average. He leads a group of three Bowling Green pitchers who are in the top-10 in conference earned run average and all sport an earned run average under 1.30.
Offensively, catcher Kyle Gurney has led the way in MAC play, driving in a team-best seven runs in eight games and hitting .288. The Falcons have made the Bobcats and Zips pay for mistakes, scoring a conference 10 runs without the help of a rbi.
FOLLOW ALONG
The weekend series will be book ended with a pair of video streams on Friday and Sunday courtesy of WBGU.ย Bowling Green will also provide live stats for each game, links are available at the top of the page as well as on the baseball schedule.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Flashes return home next weekend for a four-game set with the Toledo Rockets. The series begins on Friday, April 9th with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch.
