Four home runs lift Flashes 8-3 over Southeastern Louisiana on opening night

Friday, February 13

Hammond, LA

7 PM ET / 6 PM CT

Kent State University

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Southeastern Louisiana University

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Kent State

Southeastern Louisiana

Sawyer Solitaria celebrates after a home run

Photo by: Lindsey Rizzo / Southeastern Louisiana

Four home runs lift Flashes 8-3 over Southeastern Louisiana on opening night

2/13/2026 10:46:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HAMMOND, La. – The Kent State baseball team kicked off the 2026 season in winning fashion Friday night, defeating Southeastern Louisiana 8-3 at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The Flashes (1-0) got off to a fast start, plating four runs in the second inning to take control early. Ripken Reese launched a solo home run to right field, his first of the season, before Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe capped the inning with a three-run blast to left field, scoring Alejandro Covas and Kolton Schaller.

Kent State added another run in the third when Sawyer Solitaria homered to deep right field. The Flashes extended their lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning when Rienstra-Kiracofe scored on a wild pitch after reaching base via a walk.

Southeastern Louisiana (0-1) finally broke through in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 6-3. Dane Watts delivered a two-run single to center field, and Brody Capps followed with an RBI single through the right side. The Lions nearly tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, but Alejandro Covas caught the final out at the wall, stealing a potential game-tying three-run home run.

Kent State answered in the ninth inning with two insurance runs. Solitaria connected on his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left center that also scored Rienstra-Kiracofe.

Ciaran Caughey earned the win on the mound for the Flashes, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters. Brady St. Pierre took the loss for the Lions, surrendering five earned runs in four innings of work.

Solitaria led the offensive attack, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs. Rienstra-Kiracofe also had a strong performance, scoring three runs while going 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs, and two walks.

The Flashes are back in action tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern.

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