Big Innings Doom Flashes in Series Opener

Friday, March 18

Athens, OH

1:00 PM

Kent State University

5-7, 1-2

Ohio University

8-6, 2-1

Kent St.

Ohio

Photo by: David Dermer

3/18/2022 10:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

ATHENS, OH- Kent State erased a four-run Bobcat lead, but a five-run Ohio eighth was the difference in a 9-4 setback in Friday's series opener at Bob Wren Stadium.

Richie Dell got the start for the Flashes on Friday and picked up where he left off against the Chippewas last week, cruising through the first three innings. The Bobcats got to the righty in the fourth, putting up a four spot in the inning, with a three-run home run by A.J. Rausch being the big blow.

The Flashes chipped away at the Ohio lead. Connor Ashby continue swinging a hot bat, shooting a run-scoring single to right in the fifth to get Kent State on the board. Justin Miknis cracked a two-run homer in the sixth to draw Kent State within one at 4-3. Max Rippl came out in relief of Dell and kept Ohio off the scoreboard into the eighth. That allowed the Flashes to tie the game in the top of the eighth. Justin Kirby started with a single and Aidan Longwell pushed him to third with a double. Miknis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Collin Mathews tied the game with a sac fly, but back-to-back strikeouts closed the frame and the Flashes had to settle with drawing even.

Ohio broke the game open in their half of the eighth. Mike Richardson hit a one-out solo home run to give Ohio a 5-4 advantage. The Bobcats added on from there, breaking the game open with four insurance runs.

The Flashes are now 5-7 overall and 1-2 in the MAC. The two rivals will play a double header starting at noon on Saturday. Game one will be seven innings followed by a traditional nine-inning game. A pair of lefties, Collin Romel and Ben Cruikshank are slated to get the starts on Saturday.