Kent State University
University of Toledo
Golden Flashes Travel to Play the Rockets in Regular Season Finale
5/13/2026 5:41:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, Ohio – Kent State baseball heads to Toledo for a three-game Mid-American Conference series beginning Thursday, May 14, and running through Saturday, May 16, at Scott Park. The series serves as the final regular season action for both programs before the MAC Tournament.
The matchup pits two of the MAC's better teams against each other. Kent State enters at 38-12 overall and 22-8 in MAC play, the best winning percentage in the conference at .760, ranking eighth nationally, while Toledo comes in at 28-25 overall but 20-10 in MAC play. The Rockets have quietly built one of the MAC's most dangerous offensive lineups and a top-end rotation that can match up with anyone in the league. With MAC Tournament seeding hanging in the balance, this series carries as much weight as any Kent State has played all season.
The two programs represent a compelling clash of styles. Kent State has been built on pitching and run prevention all year, leading the MAC in ERA (4.51), WHIP (1.32), and hits allowed per nine innings (8.12), while Toledo counters with the MAC's best batting average (.309, 21st nationally), most hits (555, first in the MAC), most doubles (129, first in the MAC and fifth nationally), and the conference's best strikeouts per nine innings (9.7, 41st nationally). The Rockets are also second in the MAC in runs scored (428) and on-base percentage (.416).Â
Toledo's offense is headlined by two of the most productive hitters in the MAC. Troy Sudbrook leads the conference in doubles (31, first nationally) and total bases (138), while ranking second in RBI (64), hits (76), and slugging percentage (.676). Charlie Scholvin has been equally dynamic, batting .376 with 22 stolen bases and a .506 on-base percentage, ranking 24th nationally. Cade Baker (.323, 7 HR, 43 RBI) gives the middle of the order another legitimate power threat, and Liam Arsich (.331, 5 HR, 36 RBI) has been one of the more consistent bats in the lineup all season. Kent State will have no easy outs anywhere in this order.
Kent State's offense gives head coach Jeff Duncan several ways to put pressure on Toledo's staff. The Golden Flashes are hitting .292 as a team with 62 home runs and 261 walks, scoring 8.1 runs per game, second in the MAC and 32nd nationally. Sawyer Solitaria (.305, 16 HR, 44 RBI) leads the MAC outright in home runs, 57th nationally, and has drawn 38 walks while being intentionally walked three times. Brody Williams (.328, 8 HR, 48 RBI) leads the club in average and has been one of the conference's most consistent producers all season, and Ripken Reese (.291, 9 HR, 41 RBI) gives the middle of the order another power threat. Brady Marshall (.291, .440 OBP, 40 runs) remains one of the most dangerous table-setters in the MAC, and Alejandro Covas (.333, 18 SB) has been one of the hottest hitters on the roster over the past month. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe (.295, 37 RBI, .426 OBP) provides steady production deeper in the order, and Luke Matthews (.284, 17 SB) rounds out a lineup with no soft spots from top to bottom.Â
The Pitching Matchups
Thursday — Tumis vs. Leininger
Thursday's opener features the most compelling individual pitching matchup of the series. Easton Tumis (6-2, 5.04 ERA, 64.1 IP) leads the MAC and ranks 41st nationally with just 1.82 walks allowed per nine innings, and his 3.62 strikeout-to-walk ratio is third in the conference. Nathan Leininger counters for Toledo as one of the best starters in the MAC, going 8-1 with a 2.81 ERA across 13 starts and 80.0 innings. His 6.64 hits allowed per nine innings leads the conference, his 1.14 WHIP is fourth in the MAC, and his 74 strikeouts rank second in the conference. Leininger leads the MAC in victories and is the Rockets' unquestioned ace.Â
Friday — Caughey vs. Frey
Ciaran Caughey (6-2, 3.66 ERA) has been one of the MAC's most dominant starters all season, posting a 3.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio, sixth in the conference, alongside a 1.13 WHIP that is third in the MAC and 69th nationally. His 7.45 hits allowed per nine innings ranks fifth in the conference, and his 64 strikeouts lead Kent State's rotation. Hayden Frey counters for Toledo at 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA across 67.2 innings. His 1.15 WHIP is fifth in the conference, and his 7.18 hits allowed per nine innings is third, making Friday another legitimate pitching battle between two arms capable of going deep into a game.
Saturday — Rabatin vs. Fliss
Ben Rabatin (7-2, 3.95 ERA, 66.0 IP) will look to close out the regular season with a strong performance, having struck out 60 batters across 13 starts with a 1.31 WHIP. Rabatin ranks sixth in the MAC in ERA and has been one of the Golden Flashes' most consistent starters. Michael Fliss counters for Toledo at 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA across eight starts and 51.2 innings, with 67 strikeouts.Â
The starting pitchers are projected and not official. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern.
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