Seniors Power Thursday Night Comeback

Thursday, May 19

6:00 PM

Kent State University

22-28, 0

Eastern Michigan University

21-32, 0

EASTERN MICHIGAN 22

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

5/19/2022 8:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, OHIO- Justin Kirby blasted a pair of homers and Collin Romel tossed four innings of strong relief leading Kent State to a 6-5 comeback win over Eastern Michigan on Thursday night at Schoonover Stadium.

It was a pitcher's duel at the start of this one with Eric Chalus and Thomas House putting up zeros through the first four innings. Eastern Michigan got a lead-off triple on a ground ball into the right field corner in the fifth and turned that into the game's first run. The Eagles made it 3-0 in the sixth on Matt Kirk's conference leading 16^th homer of the season, a two-run shot to left. That homer chased Chalus, the lefty went five innings allowing three runs and striking out five in what was likely his final appearance of the season.

House had faced the minimum through five innings and Jake Casey recorded the Flashes first hit to lead off the sixth on a line-drive single to right. Collin Mathews worked a two-out walk, allowing Justin Kirby to unload on a 1-1 offering, sending a no-doubter over the left field wall to tie the game at three.

House didn't come out for the seventh and the Flashes took advantage. A pair of walks started the inning and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Casey brought home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left and Payton Pennington singled home Josh Johnson to give Kent State a 5-3 lead.

Collin Romel was outstanding out of the bullpen but ran into some bad luck in the eighth. After a lead-off single, Aaron Dolney sent a flair down the left field line. Josh Johnson laid out for the ball, only to see it bounce past him and into the corner, resulting in a run-scoring triple. A sac fly one out later tied the game at five. It was the lefty's only real blip on the night, as Romel went four innings allowing three hits and two runs while striking out five.

That set the stage for the Justin Kirby heroics. Two innings after tying the game, Kirby sent a 0-1 offering into the night sky and over the right-center field wall for his 15^th homer of the season, giving Kent State a 6-5 lead. Romel sent the Eagles down in order in the ninth, securing his fifth victory of the season.

The two team will meet up for the final double header of the season on Friday, first pitch from Schoonover is set for 1 p.m.