Golden Flashes Open Series With 8-7 Win in 13 Innings at Western Michigan

Friday, April 24

Kalamazoo, MI

11:05 AM ET

Kent State University

30-10, 16-6

Western Michigan University

20-17, 14-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kent State	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	1	8	11	2
Western Michigan	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	7	12	2

Photo by: Kaley Buck / Western Michigan Athletics

Golden Flashes Open Series With 8-7 Win in 13 Innings at Western Michigan

4/24/2026 3:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kent State survived a wild 13-inning battle at Hyames Field Friday, outlasting Western Michigan 8-7 to claim the series opener and improve to 30-10 overall and 16-6 in MAC play. Brody Williams delivered the decisive blow with a sacrifice fly in the 13th inning.

Western Michigan scored first in the bottom of the second on a Nolan Zajac RBI sacrifice bunt to take a 1-0 lead. Kent State broke through in a big way in the fifth. Alejandro Covas singled, and Luke Matthews bunted his way on before a wild pitch advanced both runners. Ripken Reese then launched a three-run home run to right field to give the Flashes a 3-1 lead.

The Broncos answered with three runs in the seventh to reclaim the lead. Tanner Mally doubled home a run, Drew Howard followed with a sacrifice fly, and a Kent State error allowed a third run to score, putting Western Michigan ahead 4-3.

Kent State responded in the eighth when Reese singled, and Sawyer Solitaria reached on an error that allowed Reese to score an unearned run, tying the game at 4-4.

The two teams traded three-run innings in the ninth to set up extra innings. Reese delivered an RBI sacrifice fly, and Solitaria followed with a two-run home run to left field to give Kent State a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the frame. Western Michigan refused to go quietly, as a passed ball and a Michael Maloney two-run single capped a three-run rally to tie the game at 7-7 and force extra innings.

The next three innings were scoreless until the 13th. Brady Marshall walked, Reese reached on a fielder's choice that moved Marshall to second on a shortstop error, and Solitaria grounded out before Williams lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Marshall and take the lead.

Caden Leonard earned the win (2-2) with three scoreless innings of relief. Brody Krzysiak closed out the bottom of the 13th for his fourth save of the season.

Reese was the offensive catalyst, going 2-for-6 with a home run, four RBI, a sacrifice fly, and two runs scored. Solitaria finished 2-for-6 with a home run, two RBI, and a double. Covas went 3-for-5 with a walk and a run scored. Matthews added a hit, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Klotz had two hits and stole a base, and Marshall reached base twice and scored the winning run. Williams drove in the decisive run with his 13th-inning sacrifice fly despite going hitless on the day. Easton Tumis started and went six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out three.

Game two of the series is Saturday at Hyames Field with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m.

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