Kent State University
24-8, 12-4
Northern Illinois University
19-10, 11-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent St. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Northern Ill. | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 12 | 10 | 0 |
Flashes Drop Series Opener at Northern Illinois, 12-2
4/10/2026 7:21:00 PM | Baseball
DEKALB, Ill. — A rough outing on the mound and an early nine-run hole proved too much to overcome, as the Kent State Golden Flashes fell to Northern Illinois 12-2 in seven innings on Thursday at Ralph McKinzie Field. The loss dropped the Flashes to 24-8 overall and 12-4 in MAC play.
Northern Illinois struck for runs in each of the first three innings to put the game away early. The Huskies scored once in the first on a Gavin Baldwin RBI single, then exploded for four in the second when Cole Smith capped a four-batter sequence with a three-run home run to left field to push the lead to 5-0. Northern Illinois wasn't done, adding four more in the third, highlighted by a Marcus Romero two-run single and a Will Couchman RBI single, building a 9-0 advantage before the Flashes could find their footing.
Ciaran Caughey had a difficult afternoon in his shortest outing of the season, allowing seven runs on six hits in 2.1 innings while walking two and striking out four before being lifted with runners on base in the third. Caughey fell to 4-1 on the year. Jordan Kolenda came on in relief but was greeted by three more NIU runs in the sixth inning — all coming via walks and hit batters — as the Huskies scored three more without recording a hit in the frame to make it 12-2.
Northern Illinois starter Max Vaisvila was dominant, going six innings and allowing just two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts to improve to 6-0 on the season.
Kent State's offense managed just two runs, both coming on solo shots. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe homered to left in the fourth to get the Flashes on the board at 9-1, and Brody Williams added an RBI single in the sixth to account for the final margin. Rienstra-Kiracofe and Nolan Belcher each had two hits to pace the offense.
The Flashes and Huskies return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, at 3 p.m. ET.Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Max Vaisvila (6-0)
L: Caughey, Ciaran (4-1)
Batting:
2B: Reese, Ripken 1
HR: Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1
RBI: Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1 ; Williams, Brody 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reese, Ripken 1 ; Rienstra-Kiracofe, Micah 1
Batting:
2B: Wyatt Wawro 1
HR: Cole Smith 1
RBI: Charlie Parcell 1 ; Cole Smith 3 ; Gavin Baldwin 1 ; Wyatt Wawro 1 ; Marcus Romero 3 ; Will Couchman 1 ; Nolan Sandee 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Charlie Parcell 2 ; Cole Smith 1 ; Caden Robertson 1 ; Gavin Baldwin 1 ; Ivan Dahlberg 1 ; Wyatt Wawro 2 ; Marcus Romero 1 ; Will Couchman 2 ; Nolan Sandee 1
SB: Charlie Parcell 2 ; Marcus Romero 1
HBP: Caden Robertson 1 ; Ivan Dahlberg 1 ; Wyatt Wawro 1
