Flashes Drop a Pair of Saturday Nail Biters

Saturday, April 17

Mount Pleasant, MI

1:00 PM

Kent State University

13-16, 6-8

Central Michigan University

19-10, 11-3

Kent State

Central Michigan

Photo by: Gabby Kingston

Flashes Drop a Pair of Saturday Nail Biters

4/17/2021 5:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI- Kent State found themselves on the wrong side of a pair of pitchers' duels on Saturday as Central Michigan swept the double header, 3-1 in the first and 2-1 in the nightcap.

GAME ONE: Central Michigan 3 Kent State 1

Lefties Collin Romel and Jack Zimmerman combined to allow just four hits and two earned in the opener and Romel took the tough luck loss.

The big hit eluded the Golden Flashes as a Collin Mathews double sent Cam Touchette over to third with one out in the first. The runners were stranded there as back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. The Flashes left a runner in scoring position three times.

Central Michigan scored a single tally in each of the first three innings. Two singles and a wild pitch scored a run in the first, a solo homer in the second, and an unearned run crossed in the third.

The Flashes were able to score in the fifth with the bottom of the order setting the table. Singles by Kevin Dobos and Sam Thompson gave an RBI opportunity for Cam Touchette. The senior came through with the third single of the inning to plate Dobos. A wild pitch moved the tying run into scoring position, but a line out by Ben Carew ended the threat. Central Michigan was able to shut the Flashes' offense down in the final two innings and took the opener on Saturday and the first two games of the series.

GAME TWO: Central Michigan 2 Kent State 1

Richie Dell and Aidan Longwell were phenomenal on the mound in game two. Dell went the first four and a third, allowing just six hits and an earned run. Longwell went the final inning and two-thirds allowing two hits, a run, while striking out two.

The only run Dell allowed came in the first innings as the Chippewas struck in their first at bat for the third time in the series. A lead-off double was pushed to third on a bunt and scored on a wild pitch. It would be the only time Dell allowed a runner past second base.

In the fourth, Kent State started the inning with singles from Mathews and Carew. A fly out to right pushed the runners up 90 feet and Mathews scored on a Justin Miknis groundout to tie the game. The Flashes would threaten again in the sixth with Carew working his way to third after a walk, but he'd be stranded there.

In the Chippewas' sixth a pair of singles put runners on the corners with one out. Kent State loaded the bases with an intentional walk and Longwell was able to get a strike out of Zack Lechnir but a six-pitch walk followed and forced in the game-winning run.

The losses put Kent State at 13-17 on the season and 6-9 in the MAC. Central Michigan is now 20-10 overall and 12-3 in conference play. The two teams will wrap up the four-game series tomorrow with a single, nine-inning game starting at 1 p.m.