Wentz' Blast Lifts Flashes Over Bobcats

Friday, April 30

5:00 PM

Kent State University

18-18, 0

Ohio University

20-14, 0

Ohio Bobcats

Kent State

4/30/2021 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, OHIO- In a match-up of two marquee starting pitchers, it was Kent State designated hitter Eric Wentz who stole the show, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh to lead Kent State to a 3-2 win over Ohio in the opening game of the four-game series.

The series opener featured two of the top arms in the Mid-American Conference with Luke Albright going for Kent State and Joe Rock going for Ohio. While the two pitchers lived up to the billing, it was Wentz' first collegiate home run that was the game's biggest moment. Wentz came into the game 1-for-21 on the season and delivered a 2-for-3 night at the plate.

Both Rock and Albright went six innings on Friday night. Albright allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and a career-best 13 strikeouts. Rock was impressive as well, allowing a run on four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.

Ohio struck first on Friday with leadoff man Isaiah Peterson taking a 2-2 pitch over the right-center field wall for a solo home run. After the solo shot, Albright settled in and shutdown the Bobcats until the sixth inning. Kent State struck back in the second inning when Nick Elsen nearly gave the Flashes a 2-1 lead but settled for a triple high off the right-center field wall to score Michael McNamara and tied the game at one.

Rock and Albright settled in after the first two innings, tossing scoreless frames despite a steady wind blowing out to right field. Ohio threatened in the fifth but Albright got a fly out to left and escaped trouble. He wasn't as lucky in the sixth, Aaron Levy served a two-out double down the left field line and gave Ohio a 2-1 lead. Kent State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but Rock struck out Elsen to end the inning.

In the seventh, Jake Reifsnyder reached on a dropped third strike to lead off the inning. That set the stage for Wentz who sent a 3-1 hanging curve ball on a line over the right field wall. That was enough for Jack Zimmerman, who tossed three shutout innings to earn his third victory of the season.

The victory sends Kent State to 18-18 overall on the season and 11-9 in the MAC. Ohio is now 20-14 and also 11-9 in conference play. The two teams will meet again tomorrow for the middle two games of the four-game set. First pitch of the two, seven inning games is set for 1 p.m.