Kent State University
Central Michigan University
Tumis Delivers, Duncan Reaches 400 as Flashes Edge Central Michigan 3-2
3/14/2026 5:51:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio — Easton Tumis was masterful, the defense was steady, and when the final out was recorded, Kent State head coach Jeff Duncan had reached a milestone that few in department history have achieved. The Flashes defeated Central Michigan 3-2 on Saturday at Schoonover Stadium, playing the entire game without power, to improve to 14-4 overall and 4-1 in MAC play and handed Duncan his 400th career victory.
With the milestone win, Duncan joins an exclusive group in Kent State Athletics history, becoming just the fourth head coach to reach 400 wins in a Golden Flashes program. He joins Karen Linder (Softball, 551), Brice Biggin (Women's Gymnastics, 460), and Bob Lindsay (Women's Basketball, 418) as the only coaches in department history to achieve the feat.
Tumis was the story on the field, turning in one of the finest outings of his career. The right-hander went eight innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out five, navigating around traffic and keeping the Chippewas off balance all afternoon. Evan Holewinski came in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced to earn his second save of the season and preserve the win for Tumis, who improved to 3-1 on the year.
Kent State fell behind 1-0 after Bryson Webb homered to left field in the second inning, but the Flashes answered in the third. Ripken Reese reached on a bunt single and came around to score on a Brody Williams sacrifice fly to tie the game, aided by a Central Michigan error. The Flashes took the lead for good in the fifth on a pair of unearned runs. Kolton Schaller reached on a hit by pitch, and Williams reached on an error to put two on, and Max Humphrey delivered with an RBI single to right to score Schaller. The inning's most memorable moment came shortly after, with Humphrey caught stealing, Williams broke for home and stole it to push the Kent State lead to 3-1.
Central Michigan made it interesting in the ninth, with Webb delivering again, this time a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to one. But Holewinski shut the door before the Chippewas could complete the comeback.
Nolan Belcher had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 out of the designated hitter spot. Reese, Solitaria, Humphrey, and Brady Marshall each added hits as the Flashes finished with seven on the afternoon.
The Flashes look to complete the series sweep on Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. at Schoonover Stadium.
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