Flashes Ground SkyHawks in Saturday Sweep

Saturday, March 4

Martin, TN

3PM CT/4PM ET

Kent State University

5-4

UT Martin

3-7

Kent State

UT Martin

3/4/2023 9:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MARTIN,TN- The Golden Flashes got timely hitting and stellar pitching in a double header sweep of the UT-Martin Skyhawks on Saturday.

Kent State took game one 6-0 in a seven-inning affair before winning the nightcap 12-3 in a standard nine-inning contest.

GAME ONE: Kent State 6 UT-Martin 0

Ben Cruikshank was dominant in game one, taking a no-hitter into the fifth and allowing only two hits in his six-and-a-third innings. The lefty finished with a two-hitter while striking out six.

The offensive support came almost instantly as Kyle Jackson led off the game with a triple and doubles by Collin Mathews and Aidan Longwell followed. Three batters in and it was 2-0 Kent State. It would stay that way until the fifth where the Flashes would load the bases. Aidan Longwell would continue his hot streak with a two-run single, breaking the game open. Kent State would add two more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

GAME TWO: Kent State 12 UT-Martin 3

Joe Whitman would get the start in game two and joined Cruikshank with a stellar performance. The lefty fanned nine, including the side in two different innings, while allowing two runs, six hits and a walk.

The Flashes would erupt for a five-run second. Kent State took advantage of an error, wild pitch and a balk in the inning. Collin Mathews and Longwell each delivered run-scoring singles in the inning.

After single tallies by UT-Martin in the second and fourth, the Flashes broke the game open with a four-run sixth. The Flashes again loaded the bases and again it was Mathews, this time joined by Miknis who brought home runs with base hits. Kyle Jackson and Mack Timbrook poured on insurance runs late to add an exclamation point on the win.

Calvin Bickerstaff and Jordan Kolenda closed out the final four innings of the win. Kolenda tossed a pair of perfect innings with two strikeouts. The wins move Kent State to 6-4 on the season and UT-Martin is 3-8. The Flashes will go for the sweep on Sunday with Eric Chalus the projected starter. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET.