Kent State University
18-17, 0
Northern Illinois
11-25, 0
Bickerstaff Brilliant as Flashes Top Huskies in Opener
4/19/2024 8:47:00 PM | Baseball
DeKALB, ILL- Calvin Bickerstaff tossed seven innings of one-run ball and Josh Johnson and Brody Williams led a balanced offense in a 7-3 series opening win at NIU on Friday.
Bickerstaff needed only 85 pitches to go seven frames, scattering five hits and allowing one earned run, while striking out seven and walking nobody.
The right-hander got run support before he ever took the mound. Williams got his big day started with a single that plated Tim Orr in the first inning, giving Kent State an early lead. The catcher struck again in the third, cracking a three-run homer over the left field wall. Williams finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBI on Friday. Johnson made it 5-0 in the fifth with a solo shot to left and singled home another run an inning later. The Flashes' centerfielder had a four-hit game on Friday and is hitting .455 in MAC play.
The Huskies would mount a small rally late with one in the seventh and two in the eighth. The duo of Caden Leonard and Peyton Cariaco slammed the door late, helping the Flashes preserve the Friday victory. The win moves Kent State over .500 at 18-17 overall and 9-7 in league play. NIU falls to 11-25 overall and 6-10 in MAC play. The two team will meet again Saturday with a 3 p.m. ET first pitch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bickerstaff, Calvin (4-3)
L: BRACHBILL (3-5)
S: Cariaco, Peyton (3)
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Josh 1 ; Jackson, Kyle 1
HR: Johnson, Josh 1 ; Williams, Brody 1 ; McNamara, Michael 1
RBI: Johnson, Josh 2 ; Williams, Brody 4 ; McNamara, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Josh 1 ; Orr, Tim 2 ; Jackson, Kyle 1 ; Williams, Brody 1 ; McNamara, Michael 1 ; Ebbing, Payton 1
SB: Orr, Tim 1 ; Jackson, Kyle 1
CS: Johnson, Josh 1
HBP: Orr, Tim 1 ; Macdonald, Lance 2
Batting:
2B: NELSON 1
HR: SUMMERHILL 1
RBI: NELSON 1 ; SUMMERHILL 1 ; CEPICKY 1
Base Running:
RUNS: NELSON 1 ; SUMMERHILL 1 ; DEMETRAL 1
