Kent State University
18-5
University of Pittsburgh
16-6
Flashes Fall to Pittsburgh 13-4 in Midweek Game
3/24/2026 6:22:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio — A five-run second inning and an eight-run eighth proved to be too much to overcome, as the Kent State Golden Flashes dropped a 13-4 decision to Pittsburgh on Tuesday afternoon at Schoonover Stadium. The loss snapped Kent State's eight-game winning streak, dropping the Golden Flashes to 18-5 overall and 8-1 in MAC play.
Pittsburgh wasted little time taking control. The Panthers sent eight batters to the plate in the second inning, capitalizing on four walks and a costly Kent State error to score five runs and chase starter Gavin Jones, who was tagged for four runs, three earned on two hits while issuing four walks in just 1.2 innings. Sebastian Pisacreta opened the scoring with a run on a Julian Irizarry sacrifice fly, and the floodgates opened from there as Caden Dulin, Lorenzo Carrier, and Trey Fenderson all delivered RBI hits to make it 5-0 before the Flashes could record a third out.
Kent State got one back in the fourth when Ripken Reese drove a solo home run down the right field line, but the Flashes' offense was largely hampered by Pittsburgh starter Antonio Doganiero, who was outstanding over seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four to earn his third win of the season.
With the game at 5-1, Pittsburgh's eighth inning turned a manageable deficit into a rout. The Panthers sent ten batters to the plate and scored eight times, highlighted by a three-RBI single from Pisacreta and a pinch-hit grand slam by Jackson Cooke to center field that pushed the lead to 13-1.
The Flashes showed some fight in the bottom of the eighth when Nolan Belcher launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe and Sawyer Solitaria to make it 13-4. Belcher finished 1-1 with three RBI on the day, while Reese added his home run and RBI. Rienstra-Kiracofe and Solitaria each went 2-for-4 to lead the offense with two hits apiece.
The Kent State bullpen struggled in relief, with six pitchers combining to allow nine runs over 7.1 innings after Jones' early exit.
Up Next
The Flashes return to MAC play this weekend, hosting the reigning MAC Champions Miami (OH) for a three-game series Friday through Sunday, March 27-29, at Schoonover Stadium.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Antonio Doganiero (3-1)
L: Jones, Gavin (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Jackson Cooke 1
RBI: Jackson Cooke 4 ; Caden Dulin 1 ; Lorenzo Carrier 1 ; Kai Wagner 1 ; Trey Fenderson 2 ; Sebastian Pisacreta 3 ; Julian Irizarry 1
SF: Julian Irizarry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jackson Cooke 1 ; Caden Dulin 2 ; Lorenzo Carrier 2 ; Kai Wagner 1 ; Trey Fenderson 1 ; Sebastian Pisacreta 2 ; Carter Dierdorf 2 ; Derrick Tarpley Jr. 2
SB: Trey Fenderson 1
HBP: Carter Dierdorf 2
Batting:
HR: Belcher, Nolan 1 ; Reese, Ripken 1
RBI: Belcher, Nolan 3 ; Reese, Ripken 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Solitaria, Sawyer 1 ; Belcher, Nolan 1 ; Reese, Ripken 1
SB: Humphrey, Max 1
