Flashes Race Past Broncos in Series Opener

Friday, May 21

5:00 PM

Kent State University

25-23, 0

Western Michigan University

20-23, 0

Western Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: Gabby Kingston

Flashes Race Past Broncos in Series Opener

5/21/2021 8:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, OHIO- Cam Touchette hit two home runs and the Golden Flashes erupted for 14 unanswered runs in a 14-4 run rule victory over Western Michigan at Schoonover Stadium.

Touchette's two-homer, five-rbi night headlined a 14-run, 16-hit attack for the Golden Flashes as they took the first game of the four-game series from the Broncos.

Things started quickly for Western Michigan on Friday against starter Collin Romel. The Broncos got an infield single and two well-placed doubles in the first inning and took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Western scored unearned runs in the second and third to open up a 4-0 lead.

Kent State's offense answered the Broncos third inning tally with one of their own and proved to be a sign of things to come. Ben Carew got his first of two hits on the day, sending a line drive into left field to score Jake Reifsnyder. The Broncos' lead was trimmed to one in the fourth as Justin Kirby put a charge into a Brandon Petersen offering, sending it over the right field wall for a two run homer. It was Kirby's third homer in the last four games.

The Golden Flashes took the lead for good in the fifth as Touchette took a 1-0 fastball and lined it over the center field wall for a two-run homer of his own to make it 5-4. Kent State broke it open with a five-run sixth inning. The Flashes got a bases-loaded walk to Michael McNamara and two-run singles from Justin Miknis and Nick Elsen to make it a 10-4 game. Miknis enjoyed a four-hit night on Friday. An inning later, Touchette struck again, belting the first pitch he saw well over the right field wall for a three run blast. The Flashes walked it off an inning later when Kyle Jackson singled to left to score Reifsnyder.

Jack Kartsonas was lights out in relief for Kent State on Friday, tossing three and two thirds innings of scoreless baseball to earn his second win of the season. Romel gave the Flashes four and a third innings of two earned run baseball, striking out three.

The victory moves Kent State to 25-23 overall on the season and 18-15 in the MAC. They gain a game on the Broncos in the MAC standings as they sit 20-24 overall and 19-14 in conference play. The two teams meet again tomorrow for a seven-inning double header. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.