Golden Flashes Sweep the Zips and Clinch a Spot in the MAC Tournament

Sunday, May 3

Akron, OH

11 AM ET (DH)

Kent State University

34-11, 19-7

University of Akron

20-27, 10-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kent St.	1	2	3	0	0	0	3	3	0	12	17	1
Akron	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	1

A Kent State Golden Flashes baserunner stands on second base clapping, wearing a gold pinstripe 'Kent State' Under Armour jersey, gold pinstripe pants, navy sleeves and socks, and a navy Golden Flashes batting helmet, with the outfield fence and trees visible in the background.

Golden Flashes Sweep the Zips and Clinch a Spot in the MAC Tournament

5/3/2026 5:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

AKRON, Ohio – Kent State swept a doubleheader at rival Akron on Sunday, winning 12-1 in eight innings and 7-2 to complete a three-game series sweep and clinch a spot in the MAC Tournament. The Golden Flashes improved to 35-11 overall and 20-7 in MAC play.

Game 1: Kent State 12, Akron 1 (8 innings)

Ciaran Caughey was dominant in the circle, tossing six innings of one-run ball while allowing just two hits and striking out seven to improve to 6-2. Caughey held the Zips scoreless until Akron pushed an unearned run across in the second, but Kent State had already built a comfortable cushion by then. The Golden Flashes erupted for six runs in the first three innings, highlighted by a Hunter Klotz two-RBI double in the third, then added three more in the seventh and three in the eighth to pull away. Nolan Belcher was the offensive star off the bench, going 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI. Grady Mee went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a two-run double in the eighth, and Brady Marshall added three hits and an RBI. Gavin Jones closed it out with two perfect innings and three strikeouts.

Game 2: Kent State 7, Akron 2

Ben Rabatin earned the win with six innings of one-run ball to improve to 6-2. The Golden Flashes broke the game open with a four-run third inning, sparked by a Brody Williams two-run double and a Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe sacrifice fly, then added two more in the fourth on another Williams double and an Alejandro Covas RBI single. Williams was the offensive catalyst, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Covas added a hit, an RBI, and two stolen bases, while Grady Mee went 2-for-3 with two steals of his own. Brody Krzysiak and Peyton Williams finished out the final three innings to secure the sweep.

UP NEXT: Kent State returns home for its final home series of the season, hosting Eastern Michigan May 8-10.

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