Golden Flashes Drop Series Finale 4-3 at Western Michigan

Sunday, April 26

Kalamazoo, MI

1:05 PM ET

Kent State University

31-11, 17-7

Western Michigan University

21-18, 15-9

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

Kent State Golden Flashes batter wearing No. 38 stands ready in his stance at home plate in a gray 'Kent State Golden Flashes' Under Armour jersey and gray pants, with an opposing catcher and umpire at left, the opposing dugout lined with players watching in the background, and fans in the bleachers behind them.

Photo by: Kaley Buck / Western Michigan Athletics

Golden Flashes Drop Series Finale 4-3 at Western Michigan

4/26/2026 4:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A ninth-inning home run by Brody Williams wasn't enough to overcome an early deficit, as Kent State dropped the series finale at Western Michigan, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Hyames Field. The Golden Flashes took two of three in the series and are 31-11 overall and 17-7 in MAC play.

Ben Rabatin absorbed the loss, falling to 5-2 after allowing four runs, two earned on six hits over five innings. He issued three walks and struck out two while being charged with two wild pitches.

Western Michigan jumped on the board in the first inning when a Luke Matthews error opened the door. Avery Thielman singled through the right side to plate Drew Howard, who had reached on the miscue, for an unearned run. The Broncos pushed the lead to 3-1 in the third on another Rabatin wild pitch that moved runners up, allowing Tanner Mally to score on a Mi. Maloney groundout, and then a second error by Matthews allowed Howard to score again, unearned. Maloney added a fourth Bronco run with an RBI single in the fourth, capping a productive day at the plate with three hits and two RBI.

Kent State answered in the second when Brody Williams singled and later stole home on a double steal with Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, who had singled up the middle and then swiped second to set up the daring play. The Flashes made it 4-2 in the fifth on a Luke Matthews RBI double to left that scored Alejandro Covas, who had singled, stolen second, and moved to third on a Grady Mee bunt single. Williams provided the final margin with a solo home run to left in the ninth off closer Tanner Doran, his second hit of the game, but the rally stalled there as the next three batters were retired.

Ricky Kidd earned the win for WMU, going 8.0 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Doran picked up the save.

Williams finished 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a stolen base, and a walk. Matthews went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Covas and Rienstra-Kiracofe each added a hit and a stolen base.

Kent State returns to action Wednesday, April 29, when the Golden Flashes travel to Pittsburgh for a midweek contest.

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