Flashes Comeback Falls Short Against Broncos

Friday, March 29

Kalamazoo, MI

3:05 PM

Kent State University

11-14, 4-4

Western Michigan

12-12, 5-3

Kent State Baseball

Western Michigan

Flashes Comeback Falls Short Against Broncos

3/29/2024 7:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO- The Flashes brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but couldn't push across the tying run in a 7-5 setback to the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday afternoon.

Bo Shinkle singled home two with a two-out single in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate, but a ground out ended the rally and the ball game.

Kent State struck first for the second-straight game. Jake Casey barreled a line drive over the right-centerfield wall for a two-run homer in the second, his team-leading seventh of the year. Western Michigan answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the second, scoring on a wild pitch and a passed ball to tie the game. Single tallies in each of the next two innings put the Broncos up 4-2 before a Ripken Reese sac fly in the fifth scored Casey and made it a one-run game. Again the Broncos answered, scoring two in the sixth and another in the eighth, using the long ball both times. That set the stage for the Flashes' ninth inning rally before the Broncos ultimately held on for the victory.

Eric Chalus was tagged with the loss, allowing nine hits and four runs (two earned) in his five innings of work, while striking out four. The loss drops Kent State to 11-14 overall and an even 4-4 in MAC play. Western Michigan is now an even 12-12 and a game ahead of the Flashes at 5-3 in conference. The Flashes will look to salvage the finale of the series on Saturday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.