Kent State University
16-4, 6-1
University of Massachusetts
5-8, 1-6
Flashes Erupt for 14 Runs, Rout UMass 14-3 in Series Opener
3/20/2026 7:53:00 PM | Baseball
HARTFORD, Conn. — The Kent State Golden Flashes put together one of their most complete offensive performances of the season on Friday, pouring it on late to defeat Massachusetts 14-3 in eight innings at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium. The win improved the Flashes to 16-4 overall and 6-1 in MAC play.
Kent State struck first in the top of the first inning when Brody Williams singled to center to plate Kolton Schaller, but the Minutemen answered with single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings to take a 3-1 lead. Massachusetts got two of its runs from the same player, Braden Sullivan, who accounted for a triple in the second, a solo home run in the fourth, and scored each time. Ciaran Caughey settled in after the early trouble, ultimately going six innings and striking out eight before turning things over to the bullpen.
The Flashes began chipping away in the sixth when Brady Marshall doubled and eventually scored alongside Max Humphrey on a fielding error by the UMass second baseman to pull within one at 3-2. Kent State then took the lead for good in the seventh, stringing together five consecutive singles to open the inning. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, entering as a pinch hitter, singled up the middle to score Nolan Belcher, and Marshall followed with a bunt RBI single to score Williams. After Luke Matthews loaded the bases, Ripken Reese capped the frame with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3 heading to the eighth.
The Flashes then put the game completely out of reach at the top of the eighth with an eight-run explosion. With the bases loaded and two walks already forcing in a run, Matthews delivered a two-run single to left center. Max Humphrey followed with a sacrifice fly, and Reese doubled to right center to plate Matthews. Then pinch hitter Hunter Klotz stepped to the plate with Reese on third and Sawyer Solitaria on second and launched a three-run home run to deep right field to cap the inning and put the Flashes ahead 14-3.
Marshall had a monster afternoon, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Matthews finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two stolen bases. The Flashes stole nine bases on the day. Gavin Jones earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to improve to 1-1 on the season.
The Flashes and Minutemen will play game two on Saturday, March 21, at 1 p.m. ET.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Gavin (1-1)
L: Sitarz, Gavin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Marshall, Brady 2 ; Reese, Ripken 1
HR: Klotz, Hunter 1
RBI: Matthews, Luke 2 ; Marshall, Brady 2 ; Reese, Ripken 2 ; Humphrey, Max 1 ; Williams, Brody 1 ; Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Klotz, Hunter 3
SF: Reese, Ripken 1 ; Humphrey, Max 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Matthews, Luke 1 ; Marshall, Brady 2 ; Reese, Ripken 1 ; Belcher, Nolan 2 ; Schaller, Kolton 1 ; Humphrey, Max 1 ; Thompson, Matt 1 ; Williams, Brody 1 ; Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 2 ; Klotz, Hunter 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1
SB: Matthews, Luke 1 ; Marshall, Brady 2 ; Reese, Ripken 1 ; Schaller, Kolton 2 ; Humphrey, Max 1 ; Thompson, Matt 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1
HBP: Schaller, Kolton 1 ; Williams, Brody 1
Batting:
3B: Sullivan, Braden 1 ; Tirado, Anthony 1
HR: Sullivan, Braden 1
RBI: Sullivan, Braden 1 ; McCarthy, Reece 1 ; Kolben, Ryan 1
SH: Kolben, Ryan 1
SF: McCarthy, Reece 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sullivan, Braden 2 ; Tirado, Anthony 1
SB: Fox, Ty 1
CS: Bonior, Vance 1 ; Tirado, Anthony 1
HBP: Willi, Marc 1
