Chalus Brilliant as Flashes Pound Out 8-2 Win

Saturday, February 17

Wilmington, NC

4:00 PM

Kent State University

1-1

North Carolina Wilmington

1-1

Kent State Baseball

UNCW

Chalus Brilliant as Flashes Pound Out 8-2 Win

2/17/2024 7:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

WILMINGTON- Eric Chalus was brilliant in his first start of the season and six different Flashes drove in a run as Kent State picked up its first win of the season, 8-2 over the host UNC-Wilmington Seahawks.

The lefty Chalus went the first five innings on Saturday, allowing only one run on three hits, walking one and striking out nine. The trio of Benny Roebuck, Peyton Cariaco and Gavin Jones, closed out the win.

Chalus got run support before he ever touched the mound on Saturday. Bo Shinkle started the day off with a lead-off single for his first collegiate hit. Jake Casey followed with a double and Josh Johnson brought Shinkle home with a safety squeeze. Two walks later, Tim Orr struck for a two-out, two-run single, his first hit as a Flash to make it 3-0 Kent State.

The Seahawks got their lone run off Chalus in the second but the junior struck out back-to-back batters to limit the damage. It stayed 3-1 into the sixth when Brody Williams worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, re-staking Kent State to a three-run lead. The Flashes broke it open in the seventh when Casey and Mike McNamara each hit solo shots to make it 6-1. Kent State tacked on two more in the eighth on a pair of run-scoring groundouts.

Shinkle and Casey each had two-hit days for the Flashes. Shinkle also added a spectacular catch in the third, leaping over the left field wall to rob a two-run homer. Tim Orr reached base four times, including a trio of walks. The Flashes reached seven times on free passes on Saturday.

The win evens Kent State's record at 1-1 on the season. The two teams will meet on Sunday morning in the rubber match of the three-game set. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.