Kent State University
Central Michigan
Flashes Open Road MAC Play at CMU
3/23/2023 3:39:00 PM | Baseball
Mt. Pleasant, MI- The Golden Flashes open up the road portion of the conference season this weekend with a three-game series at defending champion Central Michigan.
Weather has altered the series layout with the teams now playing a straight double header starting at noon on Friday and wrapping the series on Sunday with a one p.m. first pitch.
Kent State boasts the best record in the MAC at 15-5 while Central Michigan is 11-8 entering the weekend. Both teams have already had their bye week in conference play with Kent State at 3-0 after sweeping Northern Illinois two weekends ago and Central Michigan taking two of three from Ohio last weekend.
The Flashes lead the MAC in almost every offensive category and come into the weekend hitting .326 as a team. Kent State had 10 hits against the Panthers on Wednesday in the 8-3 setback, snapping Kent State's 13-game win streak. They will take their swings against a Chippewa staff that is second to Kent State in team era at 5.36. Adam Mrakitsch (1-1, 4.91), Garrett Navarra (1-2, 6.52) and Keegan Batka (3-2, 6.66) are the likely starters this weekend for the Chippewas.
Central Michigan scored 25 runs in three games against Ohio last weekend and average about seven runs a contest. Two-way player Garrett Navarra leads the squad with a .349 average while Robby Morgan IV leads the team in power numbers with five homers and 18 batted in. The Flashes' lefty trio of Ben Cruikshank, Joe Whitman and Eric Chalus have each been solid this season. Cruikshank has a pair of Pitcher of the Week accolades on his resume and Whitman has one of his own. Chalus is coming off of a 5.1 inning outing against Canisius where he allowed only one run on four hits while striking out seven.
All three games this weekend will be streamed through Central Michigan All-Access and live stats will also be provided. Links to both are on the baseball schedule page. The Flashes remain away from Schoonover Stadium on Tuesday, heading to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
