
Flashes Rally to Take Series Opener Over Chippewas
4/4/2025 6:22:00 PM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT- The Kent State Golden Flashes baseball team rallied with two outs in the top of the eighth to score three runs and take the series opener against the Central Michigan Chippewas by a score of 6-4.
Kent State and Central Michigan would exchange runs early in a back-and-forth pitcher's duel. Sawyer Solitaria would open the scoring in the top of the first on a RBI single that was sent right back up the middle. The Chippewas would tie the game back up in the bottom of the second with an RBI double.
Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe would regain the lead for the Flashes serving a single through the right side of the infield.
Central Michigan would take their first lead of the day on an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Kent State would tie the game back up at three in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Luke Matthews. But Central Michigan would take the lead right back in the bottom of the sixth with a single run.
The Flashes would take the lead with a little bit of two out magic in the top of the eighth. Ripken Reese would tie the game up on an RBI triple that was ripped right up the right field line over the first base bag. Matthews would give Kent State the lead on an RBI single up the middle. Hayden Jatczak would give the Flashes some insurance on an RBI double out to left center field.
Gavin Jones pitched well for the Flashes in his start on Friday afternoon, the right hander went 5.1 innings allowing four runs and striking out four. Caden Leonard followed up Jones out of the bullpen and pitched 2.1 innings allowing just one hit. Kent State then turned to Peyton Cariaco to get the final four outs of the game en route to his eighth save of the 2025 season.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will and Central Michigan will meet for game two of the three game set on Saturday afternoon in Mount Pleasant. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leonard, Caden (3-0)
L: Nate Ross (1-1)
S: Cariaco, Peyton (8)

Batting:
2B: Jatczak, Hayden 1 ; Matthews, Luke 1
3B: Reese, Ripken 1
RBI: Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Jatczak, Hayden 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1 ; Reese, Ripken 1 ; Matthews, Luke 2
SH: Reese, Ripken 1
SF: Matthews, Luke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jatczak, Hayden 1 ; Klotz, Hunter 1 ; Thompson, Matt 1 ; Reese, Ripken 1 ; Matthews, Luke 2
SB: Solitaria, Sawyer 1 ; Thompson, Matt 1
CS: Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1
HBP: Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1 ; Williams, Brody 1

Batting:
2B: Rees Campanale 1 ; Aydin Wright 1
3B: Mikey Murphy 1
RBI: Mikey Murphy 2 ; Aydin Wright 1 ; Brady Krzciok 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cayden Smith 1 ; Rees Campanale 1 ; Aydin Wright 1 ; Cole Kwiatkowski 1
CS: Aaron Piasecki 1