Kent State University
University of Toledo
Flashes Season Comes to an End in Avon
5/23/2024 1:12:00 PM | Baseball
AVON- A four-run Toledo fifth inning was too much for the Flashes on Thursday as the Rockets defeated Kent State 8-2 in a Mid-American Conference Tournament elimination game.
It was a pitcher's dual for the first four innings as both Eric Chalus and Noah Johnson sailed through the first half of the game. Toledo scratched across a run in the first on a double and a sacrifice fly but the Flashes' lefty needed only 25 pitches to get through the first three innings.
Unfortunately, Noah Johnson matched Chalus pitch for pitch as the Rockets' lefty pitched around a Brody Williams' single and a hit by pitch in the first go-around against the Flashes. Toledo broke it open in the sixth, using a pair of well-placed singles and a bang-bang infield hit that withstood a lengthy review to score twice. Garret Pike then lined a homer over the short wall in right field to make it a 5-0 lead.
Josh Johnson provided the offense for Kent State, connecting on his 14th homer of the season, driving in Connor Ashby, a fitting end to the senior's all-conference season.
The loss ends Kent State's year at 27-27 while Toledo advances to play in another win-or-go-home game on Friday morning.
