Flashes Sweep Cardinals for 40th Win of Season

Saturday, May 20

Muncie, IN

1:00 PM

Kent State University

40-14, 24-6

Ball State

33-21, 19-11

Kent State

Ball State

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Sweep Cardinals for 40th Win of Season

5/20/2023 4:19:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MUNCIE- Kent State secured its first 40-win regular season since 2016 with a 11-5 victory over Ball State, sweeping the final regular season series of the season.

The Flashes scored 54 runs over the three-game series, the most in a three-game set since at least 2012. They wasted little time on Saturday as the first four Flashes reached safely. Justin Miknis and Michael McNamara had run-scoring singles and Kyle Jackson followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-0 ball game.

A trio of solo shots for Ball State over the first two innings tied the game, but it didn't stay tied for long. McNamara parked an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall for a three-run homer, retaking a three-run lead for Kent State at 6-3. The junior shortstop would add a sac fly later in the game to round out a five-rbi afternoon.

Kent State would grow the lead to as big as 11-3 with Jake Casey and Longwell each picking up run-scoring singles. For Longwell, it was run batted in number 70 for the junior and he became the third Golden Flashes to reach that mark in a season, joining Anthony Gallas (2010) and John VanBenschoten (2001).

Four Golden Flash pitchers made the lead stand up, striking out 10 on the afternoon. Senior Richie Dell got the win, going the middle 2.2 innings in relief of starter Eric Chalus. Mitch Scott put the exclamation point on win number 40 by striking out the heart of the Cardinal lineup in the ninth in a non-save situation.

Kent State closes the regular season at 40-13 and 24-6 in the MAC, tying the program record for conference wins in a year, joining the 2012 and 1992 teams. The Flashes turn their attention now to the Mid-American Conference tournament back home at Schoonover Stadium. Kent State will take on the fourth-seeded Western Michigan Broncos in the tournament opener on Wednesday, first pitch is set for noon.