Flashes Split Wild Doubleheader at Ball State

Saturday, May 15

Muncie, IN

1:00 PM

Kent State University

23-22, 0

Ball State University

31-15, 0

Kent State

Ball State

Flashes Split Wild Doubleheader at Ball State

5/15/2021 6:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MUNCIE, IND- Leads were not safe on Saturday afternoon as Kent State and Ball State split Saturday's doubleheader with Kent State taking game one 9-4 and Ball State winning the nightcap 8-7.

GAME ONE: KENT STATE 9 BALL STATE 4

Kent State rallied for eight unanswered runs in the opener on Saturday to pull away for a five-run victory. For the second time in as many games, Ball State struck in their first at bat. After a throwing error started the bottom of the first, Noel Navarro took an 0-1 pitch from Luke Albright over the left field wall for a two-run homer. The Cardinals kept the pedal down after the homer, using a hit by pitch and a pair of singles to plate another run and led 3-0 after the first.

It stayed 3-0 into the fifth when the teams traded solo homers. Justin Kirby led off the top of the fifth with a homer to right only to see Navarro homer for the second time in the bottom half to make it 4-1. The Golden Flashes' rally started in the sixth with a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Sam Thompson. The junior delivered a bases-clearing double down the right field line, tying the game at 4 and ending Ball State starter Chayce McDermott's day. Kent State took advantage of a shaky Ball State bullpen in the seventh. An error and two walks loaded the bases for Michael McNamara and the freshman delivered a clutch two-run double of his own to make it 6-4. Kirby piled on with a two-run single and came around to score and stake Kent State to a 9-4 lead.

Albright bounced back from the rough first inning to go six strong on Saturday afternoon. The righty allowed just four hits and only two of the four runs were earned, he walked two and struck out six. Jack Zimmerman worked the seventh to secure Albright's sixth win of the season.

GAME TWO: BALL STATE 8 KENT STATE 7

Game two started with a lengthy first inning. The Flashes got both Kyle Jackson and Ben Carew aboard in front of Collin Mathews. The center fielder delivered a run scoring single. Mathews promptly stole second and a walk loaded the bases and forced Ball State to go to the bullpen. Kent State couldn't capitalized and settled for a one-run first. Ball State continued their first inning trend, erupting for five runs off Richie Dell. The Cardinals hit four singles and a triple to grab another early lead.

The Flashes began chipping away at the Ball State lead as Dell settled into a groove. Justin Kirby homered for a second-straight game to make it 5-2 in the second. It became a 5-4 game in the fourth as Kent State strung together four singles and were helped by a bases loaded wild pitch. The comeback was completed an inning later as Sam Thompson again delivered a clutch hit, this time a single that brought home Justin Miknis. A batter later, Kirby gave Kent State the lead on a sacrifice fly to center. The lead was short lived as Ball State tied the game on a walk, hit by pitch and a single. Kyle Jackson stole back the lead in the sixth. The freshman singled, went to second on a ground out and scored during Collin Mathew's at bat. But the back-and-forth game swung back to Ball State in the bottom of the inning. The Cardinals went ahead for good, capitalizing on an error, walk and hit batter to load the bases. A two-run single by Trenton Quartermaine followed and the Cardinals hung on to salvage the Saturday split.

The split evens Kent State's record at 23-23 overall and are now 16-15 in the MAC. Ball State is now 32-15 and 23-8 in conference play. The two teams wrap up the series on Sunday, first pitch is set for 1 p.m.