Pair of Late Rallies Help Flashes Bounce Zips

Friday, May 10

Akron, OH

NOON

Kent State University

24-23, 14-11

Akron

14-34, 9-16

Kent St.

Akron

Pair of Late Rallies Help Flashes Bounce Zips

5/10/2024 9:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

AKRON- Mike McNamara capped a furious late rally with a three-run homer in the ninth in game one and Kyle Jackson parked a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth of game two, helping the Flashes down the Zips 10-8 in game one and 6-5 in the night cap.

The Friday sweep clinches a spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament, starting May 22nd in Avon, Ohio.

GAME ONE- Kent State 10 Zips 8

The home side jumped out early on Friday, scoring the game's first five runs, buoyed by a four-run third that featured a pair of homers. The Flashes got a pair back in the fourth on a two-run double to right-center from Ripken Reese. However, the Zips had an answer, scoring three more in the bottom of the inning to open up an 8-2 advantage. It stayed that way into the eighth as Rocco Bernadina slowed down the Zips' offense. In the eighth, the Flashes strung together three hits and got a sac fly and run-scoring ground out to make it a 8-6 ballgame. An inning later, Tim Orr led off the inning with an opposite-field double after he ended the eighth with a run-saving leaping grab at the left field wall. Orr scored on a Brody Williams single and went to second on a walk to Dom Kibler. McNamara then hammered a 2-1 pitch well over the left field wall to give Kent State a 10-8 lead. Peyton Cariaco made short work of the bottom of the ninth and notched his third save of the season.

GAME TWO- Kent State 6 Zips 5

The second game started similar to the first with the home side jumping out early, this time scoring two in the first and another in the second to lead 3-0. The Flashes answered back in the fourth with Brody Williams and Kolton Schaller annihilating pitched over the left and right field wall for two-run homers, giving Kent State a 4-3 lead. It was tied again in the fifth after Josh Johnson leapt for a fly ball only to see it pop loose when he hit the wall, clearing the fence for a solo homer. The Zips took the lead an inning later on a go-ahead double. The magic struck late again for the Flashes, Josh Johnson reached on a single, leading to a go-ahead two-run shot from Kyle Jackson, giving Kent State a 6-5 lead. Cariaco came into the game in the eighth, picked the tying run off base, then sent the Zips down in order in the ninth for his second save of the day and fourth of the season.

The wins moves Kent State to 25-23 on the season and 15-11 in the MAC. The Flashes will go for the sweep on Mother's Day with a 1:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch,