Kent State Falls to #2 LSU 10-7 in Baton Rouge

Monday, February 16

Baton Rouge, LA

7 PM ET / 6 PM CT

Kent State University

3-1

Louisiana State University

4-0

Kent State

LSU

Photo by: Lindsey Rizzo / Southeastern Louisiana

Kent State Falls to #2 LSU 10-7 in Baton Rouge

2/16/2026 10:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Kent State baseball team dropped its first game of the season Monday night, falling 10-7 to #2 LSU.

The Flashes (3-1) got off to a strong start offensively in the third inning. Luke Matthews singled to left-center, and Grady Mee walked to put two runners on base. Sawyer Solitaria then crushed a three-run home run to left field, his fourth of the season, bringing Kent State within one down 3-4.

However, LSU (4-0) responded immediately in the bottom of the third. Jake Brown homered to center field to extend the lead by two, and the Tigers added two more runs in the frame on an RBI single by Trent Caraway and an RBI double by Tanner Reaves.

The Tigers extended their lead with single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Cade Arrambide drove in a run with a single in the fourth, and Derek Curiel scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to extend the lead to 9-3.

Kent State mounted a comeback in the seventh inning with four runs. After Matthews walked and Mee was hit by a pitch, Solitaria singled to load the bases. Brody Williams delivered the key hit with a double to left field that cleared the bases, scoring three runs. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 10-7.

Williams led the Flashes at the plate, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a double. Solitaria finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Gavin Jones took the loss for Kent State, allowing seven runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of work. LSU's Jared Plog earned the win with a scoreless fourth inning in relief, while Sam Guidry picked up the save by striking out five batters over the final 2.1 innings.

The Flashes will look to bounce back when they travel to Knoxville to face #13 Tennessee in a weekend series.

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