Flashes and Rockets Split Wild Saturday Double Header

Saturday, April 10

1:00 PM

Kent State University

13-12, 0

University of Toledo

7-20, 0

TOLEDO ROCKETS

Kent State

Photo by: Gabby Kingston

Flashes and Rockets Split Wild Saturday Double Header

4/10/2021 7:13:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, OHIO-The Golden Flashes and Rockets traded comebacks on Saturday in an action packed double header with both teams winning a 9-8 ball game.

GAME ONE: Kent State 9 Toledo 8

Toledo jumped out early on game one starter Colin Romel. A run-scoring double by Scott Mackiewicz made it 1-0 Toledo in the second and the Rockets would make it 4-0 with a three-run third. The Flashes cut the lead in half with a two-out two run rally in the third. Nick Elsen was hit by a pitch to get things started. Cam Touchette singled to left and a wild throw from the Toledo outfield that ended up down the right field line. The error scored Elsen and allowed Touchette to advance to third, Michael McNamara drove in Touchettte to make it 4-2.

Toledo added to their lead in the sixth, getting a two run single from Chris Meyers against Aidan Longwell to make it 6-2. The Flashes went to work in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, the Flashes strung together five-straight singles to score three times and cut the lead to 6-5. Ben Carew then grounded into a fielder's choice, but the return throw to first was wild, Justin Kirby scored to tie the game and Carew ended up on second. Michael Turner then doubled home Carew, Collin Mathews tripled home Turner and Justin Miknis singled home Mathews. Kent State scored seven time on eight hits to lead 9-6 heading into the seventh.

The Rockets would not go quietly. John Servello hit a one-out, two-run homer off Ryan Lane to make it 9-8. Jack Zimmerman relieved Lane and the Rockets would get two singles and a walk to load the bases. Chris Meyers then struck out on a 2-2 fastball and Zimmerman collected his fourth save of the season and preserved the 9-8 win.

GAME TWO: Toledo 9 Kent State 8

Richie Dell got the game two start and he was rudely greeted by Meyers. Meyers hit his MAC leading 10th homer of the season over the left field wall in the first. The two-run shot gave the Rockets the early lead. Kent State got a run back in the second, a double down the left field line by Elsen scored Touchette. The Flashes tied it in the third, after a Miknis walk, Touchette split the right-center gap for a run-scoring triple to tie the game at two. The Rockets see-sawed back into the lead in the fourth on another two-run homer, this one off the bat of Mason Sykes to make it 4-2. Toledo thought they had broken the game open in the fifth with Danny O'Brien hitting a three-run homer to make it 8-2 and capping a four-run inning.

This time it was the Flashes who would not go quietly into the night, with the first six batters reaching safely on five singles and a bases-loaded walk to make it 8-6. A wild pitch scored Elsen to make it 8-7 and Carew singled to tie the game at 8. Niether team threatened in the sixth and the Rockets manufactured the game-winning run in the seventh. Meyers was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single from Danny O'Reilly. Meyers would score on a sac fly to right to re-take the lead at 9-8. The Flashes couldn't touch righty Jordan Power last night and today was no exception. Power came in and worked a three-up, three-down ninth as Kevin Dobos flew out to the warning track to end game two.

The split leaves Kent State at 13-13 on the season and 6-5 in the MAC. Toledo is now 8-20 and 6-9 in the MAC. The Golden Flashes will vie for the split in tomorrow's finale. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.