Kent State University
University of Rhode Island
Kent State Returns Home for First Time in 2026, Welcomes Rhode Island for Weekend Series
2/26/2026 7:09:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio – After eight consecutive road games to open the 2026 season, the Kent State Golden Flashes finally get to play in front of their home fans this weekend. Schoonover Stadium hosts its first action of the year as Kent State welcomes Rhode Island for a four-game series, with Saturday's action scheduled as a doubleheader. The Flashes come in at 5-3 following a challenging early schedule that included a trip to #2 LSU and #20 Tennessee. Rhode Island, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win of the season at 0-7.
Coming Home at the Right Time
Kent State has been battle-tested through its first eight games, facing quality competition away from home every single time out. That experience could pay dividends this weekend against a Rhode Island squad that has been outscored 84-23 through seven games and is still winless. The home crowd will energize the Flashes, and the matchup on paper strongly favors Kent State across virtually every category.
Solitaria Still Carrying the Offense
Even with the team's batting average dipping to .234 following some tough outings against Tennessee and Wright State, Sawyer Solitaria has been as good as anyone in the country. The outfielder is hitting .484 with four home runs, nine RBI, and 12 runs scored, and leads the MAC in hits (15) and total bases (29). He ranks 57th nationally in batting average, 33rd in slugging percentage (.935), and 2nd in the MAC in runs scored. He's the clear offensive engine for this team, and Rhode Island's pitching staff will have no easy answers for him.
Beyond Solitaria, Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe continues to quietly be one of the team's most essential run producers, leading the club with 10 RBI while hitting .276. Grady Mee has been a steady presence, drawing seven walks and posting a .472 on-base percentage, and Luke Matthews has reached base at a .405 clip, largely by getting hit by pitches, which he's done five times, fourth-best in the MAC. Ripken Reese and Brody Williams each have two home runs, giving Kent State multiple power threats throughout the lineup.
The patient approach will be particularly valuable this weekend. Rhode Island's pitching staff has issued 43 walks in just 50.1 innings, a 7.69 walks per nine innings rate that ranks 276th nationally. The Flashes, who have drawn 41 free passes of their own this season, are well-built to make Rhode Island pay for a lack of command.
Rhode Island Has Struggled in Every Phase
The Rams have been one of the more challenged teams in the country through seven games, and the numbers tell a stark story. Their team ERA sits at 13.23, 294th nationally, and opponents are hitting .348 against their pitching staff. They've given up 84 runs and 78 hits in just over 50 innings. Offensively, Rhode Island is hitting just .203 as a team with only 23 runs scored in seven games, ranking 282nd nationally in scoring. Their most dangerous bat has been Jayden Tolentino, who is slashing .375/1.125 with two home runs in limited at-bats. Brian Connolly (.357) and Scott Penney(.304) have also been productive, but the lineup as a whole has been prone to strikeouts, 56 of them in 202 at-bats. One area of concern for Kent State's baserunners: Rhode Island has caught all 24 attempted base stealers this season, an area where the Rams have been stout.
The Pitching Matchups
Friday — Caughey vs. Sabbath
Kent State gets its best arm on the mound for the home opener, as ace Ciaran Caughey takes the ball. The right-hander has been virtually untouchable this season, carrying a 0.00 ERA through nine innings with 12 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. He's been one of the top pitchers in the MAC and gives the Flashes about as strong a chance as possible in the series opener. He'll face Joe Sabbath, who has been one of Rhode Island's most-used starters but has struggled significantly — allowing 14 hits and 15 runs across just 5.1 innings for a 21.94 ERA. This matchup strongly favors Kent State.
Saturday Game One — Tumis vs. Maloney
Easton Tumis takes the ball in the first game of the doubleheader. The right-hander has been one of the steadier starters on the staff, posting a 2.79 ERA across 9.2 innings with solid command. He leads the MAC and ranks first nationally among qualified pitchers in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.00. Rhode Island will counter with Evan Maloney, who does not yet have a pitching line in the statistics, suggesting he'll be making his first appearance of the season. That unknown factor is worth monitoring, but given the Rams' overall pitching struggles, Tumis figures to be a significant advantage for the Flashes.
Saturday Game Two — Rabatin vs. Johnston
Ben Rabatin gets the ball in the nightcap, looking to build on his last outing after a tough start to the season. The right-hander has a 5.63 ERA across eight innings in two starts, and a strong performance in the second game of the doubleheader would go a long way toward solidifying his role in the rotation. His opponent, Connor Johnston, is actually Rhode Island's most intriguing arm, as he leads the Atlantic 10. He ranks first nationally among qualified pitchers in both walks allowed per nine innings (0.00) and strikeout-to-walk ratio, and has struck out nine batters in 8.1 innings. His 7.56 ERA shows the results haven't matched the peripherals, but he's the one Rhode Island pitcher who has shown the ability to throw strikes and miss bats consistently. This is the most competitive matchup of the weekend on paper.
First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m. in Schoonover Stadium.
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