Flashes Weather Storm, Shutout Zips

Saturday, April 15

Kent, Ohio

3:00 PM

Kent State University

13-21, 0

Akron

24-10, 0

AKRON

Kent State Baseball

Photo by: David Dermer

4/15/2023 8:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT- Kent State withstood a pair of weather delays and got five shutout innings from Joe Whitman in a 3-0 shutout of the Akron Zips on Saturday afternoon.

Two lightning delays totaling nearly three hours made for a bizarre Saturday, but the Flashes scored single tallies in the first, sixth and seventh to come away with the victory.

Joe Whitman, Jack Kartsonas and Mitchell Scott made the three runs stand up, combining for 12 strikeouts and holding Akron to only five singles. The only Zip to make it into scoring position came in the eighth off a sacrifice bunt but Breydan Cavey was promptly picked off after he attempted to go to an uncovered third base on the play.

For the second straight day, the Flashes took advantage of free passes, using five walks and four more hit batsman to add to the offense. Jake Casey was plunked with the bases loaded in the first as Kent State scored without the benefit of a base hit.

It stayed 1-0 into the sixth when Mack Timbrook hit the lone extra base hit of the game, a double to right center to score Mike McNamara. An inning later and fresh out of the second delay, the Flashes added their final insurance run. Justin Miknis singled Kyle Jackson over to third but the junior over slid the bag on the wet turf and got into a glorified game of tag with the Akron infield that resulted in him safely diving back into the bag. One pitch later, Aidan Longwell delivered RBI number 50 on the season with a sacrifice fly.

Whitman kept pace with Ben Cruikshank with his fifth win of the season and Scott nailed down his MAC leading seventh save. The win moves Kent State to 24-10 overall and 11-3 in the MAC. The Zips drop to 13-21 overall and 6-11 in conference. The Flashes will go for the sweep tomorrow, first pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m. due to projected afternoon rain.