Kent State University
17-4, 7-1
University of Massachusetts
5-9, 1-7
Flashes Take Series with 9-3 Win Over UMass, Eye Fourth Sweep
3/21/2026 4:48:00 PM | Baseball
HARTFORD, Conn. — An eight-run fifth inning was all the Kent State Flashes needed on Saturday, breaking open a tight game to defeat Massachusetts 9-3 at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium and claim the series. The win improved the Flashes to 17-4 overall and 7-1 in MAC play.
Massachusetts grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on one of the stranger plays of the afternoon. Anthony Tirado singled, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored when Ty Fox was caught stealing at second. Kent State answered in the third when Brady Marshall tripled to deep right field and scored on a Max Humphrey sacrifice fly to tie the game at one.
The Flashes couldn't push across any more runs until the fifth, but when they broke through, they did so in emphatic fashion. Marshall and Luke Matthews reached on back-to-back hit by pitches to start the rally, and both promptly stole their way into scoring position. Humphrey grounded out to plate Marshall, and after Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe walked and stole second and Sawyer Solitaria drew a walk, the Minutemen's bullpen completely unraveled. Hunter Klotz drew a bases-loaded walk to score Matthews, Ripken Reese followed with another bases-loaded walk to score Rienstra-Kiracofe, and Nolan Belcher drew yet another walk to plate Solitaria. A wild pitch then scored Klotz before Brody Williams stepped up and delivered the knockout blow, a three-run home run to deep left field that scored Reese and Belcher to make it 9-1. The Flashes scored eight runs in the inning, sending eleven batters to the plate while only collecting two hits, drawing five walks, and benefiting from three hit batters.
Easton Tumis was solid on the mound in earning his fourth win of the season, going five innings and limiting the Minutemen to two runs while striking out three. Nick Guidas and Jordan Kolenda combined to close out the final four innings, allowing just one run between them. Williams finished the day 1-for-4 with three RBI on his home run, while Marshall went 2-for-2 with a triple and two stolen bases. The Flashes stole six bases on the afternoon, continuing their aggressive approach on the basepaths that has defined the season.
The Flashes will go for their fourth sweep of the season on Sunday, March 22, at 12 p.m. ET against the Minutemen.Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tumis, Easton (4-1)
L: Merritt, Adam (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Solitaria, Sawyer 1
3B: Marshall, Brady 1 ; Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Klotz, Hunter 1
HR: Williams, Brody 1
RBI: Reese, Ripken 1 ; Belcher, Nolan 1 ; Humphrey, Max 1 ; Williams, Brody 3 ; Klotz, Hunter 1
SF: Humphrey, Max 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Matthews, Luke 1 ; Marshall, Brady 2 ; Reese, Ripken 1 ; Belcher, Nolan 1 ; Williams, Brody 1 ; Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Klotz, Hunter 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1
SB: Matthews, Luke 1 ; Marshall, Brady 2 ; Humphrey, Max 2 ; Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1
CS: Schaller, Kolton 1 ; Klotz, Hunter 1
HBP: Matthews, Luke 1 ; Marshall, Brady 1 ; Klotz, Hunter 1
Batting:
2B: Bonior, Vance 1 ; Beverly, Jack 1
RBI: Bonior, Vance 1 ; Briggs, Will 1
SF: Briggs, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McCarthy, Reece 1 ; Tirado, Anthony 1 ; Beverly, Jack 1
SB: Tirado, Anthony 1
CS: Fox, Ty 1
HBP: Bonior, Vance 1 ; Kolben, Ryan 1
