Kent State University
Akron
Wagon Wheel Rivalry Ramps up with Friday Twin Bill
5/9/2024 2:04:00 PM | Baseball
KENT- The wagon wheel rivalry renews on the baseball diamond this weekend as the Flashes make the short trip down I-76 to take on the Akron Zips at Skeeles Field.
Due to rain in Saturday's forecast, the teams will play a double header on Friday starting at noon with a single game on Sunday starting at 1:05 p.m. Game one on Friday and Sunday's game will stream on ESPN+.
The Flashes come into the weekend at 23-23 overall and 13-11 in MAC play. They dropped a pair of one-run heart breakers to Miami last weekend. The Zips swept Central Michigan to improve to 14-33 overall and 9-15 in league play.
Kent State is hitting .282 as a club in MAC play and average over eight runs a game. The offense is led by Josh Johnson who continues to hit over .400 at .404 and leads the club in conference homers (9) and RBI (32). On the bump, the Flashes have pitched to a 5.82 earned run average and the staff is averaging over a strikeout per inning, a mark good for second in the MAC.
Akron hits .252 as a ball club and averages six runs per contest. Max Bowman leads the squad at .330 in MAC play, one of four players hitting north of .300 in conference. On the mound, the Zips staff has tossed to a 6.28 earned run average. Leading the way is Jared Schaeffer. The right hander is 3-3 in seven starts, pitching to a 3.24 ERA against the MAC. The sophomore has won each of his last three starts going eight innings or better each time.
The two rivals have met 178 times going into this week with Kent State owning a 118-59-1 all-time series lead. Kent State will head home to finish the regular season next week, hosting Ball State for senior weekend. The series starts on Thursday with a first pitch set for 6 p.m.
