Solitaria's Walk-Off Homer Gives Kent State 8-7 Win Over Rhode Island in 13 Innings

Friday, February 27

Kent, Ohio

3 PM ET

Kent State University

6-3

University of Rhode Island

0-8

Rhode Island

Kent St.

Solitaria's Walk-Off Homer Gives Kent State 8-7 Win Over Rhode Island in 13 Innings

2/27/2026 8:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Sawyer Solitaria delivered a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the Kent State baseball team an 8-7 victory over Rhode Island on Friday at Schoonover Stadium.

Rhode Island (0-8) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Penney reached base with an error and Moroney on a fielder's choice. Matt Grotyohann doubled to left-center, driving in both runners to give the Rams the advantage.

Kent State (6-3) answered immediately in the bottom of the first. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe singled and stole second before scoring on a Brody Williams RBI single. Ripken Reese followed with an RBI double to right-center that scored Williams, tying the game at 2-2.

The Rams regained the lead in the second inning when Jake Thompson singled and later scored on a double by Penney, making it 3-2. Rhode Island extended the lead to 4-2 in the third when Thompson reached on an error and scored on the play while Moroney also came home.

The Flashes tied the game again in the third inning. Luke Matthews reached on a strikeout that resulted in a passed ball, and Rienstra-Kiracofe walked. Both runners advanced on an error, and Reese singled through the right side to drive in both runs, evening the score at 4-4.

Rhode Island took a 5-4 lead in the sixth when Hopko singled to left-center, scoring Connolly. The Rams added two more runs in the seventh on a two-run double by Tolentino that scored Thompson and King, giving Rhode Island a 7-4 advantage.

Kent State mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Brady Marshall pinch-hit and singled to center field. Matthews followed with a single, and Solitaria added another single to load the bases. Rienstra-Kiracofe drew a bases-loaded walk to score Marshall, cutting the deficit to 7-5. Williams then delivered a clutch two-run double down the right field line to tie the game at 7-7.

The game remained tied through five extra innings as both bullpens shut down the opposing offenses. Peyton Williams was outstanding in relief for Kent State, pitching three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out four batters to earn the win.

With two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning, Solitaria stepped to the plate and launched a walk-off home run to right field, sending the Flashes to an 8-7 victory.

Solitaria finished 2-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Williams went 2-for-6 with three RBIs and a double, while Reese added two hits and three RBIs. Rienstra-Kiracofe scored twice and walked three times.

Ciaran Caughey started for Kent State, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out five batters.

For Rhode Island, Moroney led the offense with a 4-for-7 performance, scoring two runs. Grotyohann went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Tolentino added two RBIs on a 2-for-6 day.

The Flashes will host Rhode Island in a doubleheader on Saturday, February 28, with the first game beginning at noon.

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