ROCK HILL, SC- Ben Carew doubled four times and Kent State blew things open with an eight-run eighth in a 13-6 victory on Saturday afternoon.

It was a balanced offensive effort for the Flashes, who saw every starter score at least one run. It was the first time that happened since April of 2018 against Central Michigan. In total, Kent State rapped out eight doubles and 18 hits.

The Flashes got things rolling in the second inning, using a pair of doubles from Grant Vera and the first of four two-baggers for Ben Carew to plate three runs. Winthrop would cut into the lead in the second and again in the third, plating an unearned run in both innings off of Collin Romel.

Carew's second double of the afternoon sparked a two-run fifth inning for the Flashes. Carew went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Michael Turner that pushed Collin Mathews to second. Justin Kirby's second hit of the day, scored Mathews, giving Kent State a 5-2 lead. Again, Winthrop took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Flashes, plating two more unearned runs and ending Romel's day after four and two thirds innings. Trevor Pittman got the biggest out of the day, inducing an inning-ending groundout to get out of a bases loaded jam and preserving the one-run lead.

Kent State blew things open in the eighth. The Flashes used six hits, including three doubles and a pair of errors to score eight times.  Winthrop used four pitchers in the inning, each as unsuccessful as the last. Ten men came to the plate in the inning. Kevin Dobos became the first Golden Flashes' hitter to get two hits in one inning since Alex Ronnebaum did it against Ohio last season.  

Collin Romel was solid for Kent State, striking out six in his four and two-thirds. He fell victim to some untimely errors and walks, none of the four runs he allowed were earned. Trevor Pittman got the win, allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings of work. Max Rippl and Jarrett Smetana finished out the contest.

The win improves Kent State to 6-3 on the season and ran their win streak to four. Ryan Lane will get the Sunday start as the Flashes go for the sweep. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – On day two of the First Pitch Invitational, the Ball State baseball team split a pair of games with Kansas. The Jayhawks took the opener, 9-3, before Ball State rallied in the second game to pull out a 7-4 win.
 
Newcomer Trenton Quartermaine went 4-for-8 on the day with three RBIs and two runs scored. He provided the go-ahead hit in game two against the Jayhawks (5-5).
 
GAME ONE
Kansas broke open the game with a seven-run sixth inning to account for the final score. Ball State (3-6) had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run triple from Mack Murphy.
 
Starter Kyle Nicolas pitched into the sixth inning, struck out five batters and was charged with four earned runs.
 
GAME TWO
The Cardinals trailed 3-0 and 4-2 early, but home runs from Ross Messina and Adam Christianson helped Ball State tie the game at 4-all in the sixth. Messina notched a two-run bomb in the fourth and Christianson leveled the game with another two-run shot in the sixth. The home runs were the first of the season for each player.
 
Quartermaine finally gave Ball State the lead in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run double. Ryan Peltier added another run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly.
 
Relievers Zach Losey, Luke Jaksich and Andre Orselli only gave up one hit to the Jayhawks the final five innings. Losey tallied the win by tossing 3.0 hitless innings and Orselli notched his first save by getting the final out.
 
NEXT UP
The Cardinals wrap up play at the First Pitch Invitational against host school Michigan State Sunday at 1 p.m.