Story Courtesy of Kent State Athletic Communications
AVON, Ohio- The Kent State Golden Flashes baseball team won their first game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament against the Ball State Cardinals in dramatic fashion with a walk off sacrifice fly off the bat of Brody Williams.
Ball State would score the first run of the game in the top of the first when they grounded into a double play.
Kent State would respond right back in the bottom of the first. After Luke Matthews kicked off the bottom half of the inning with a single Hayden Jatczak would give the Flashes the lead on a two-run opposite field blast over the wall in right. The Flashes would extend their lead to 4-1 with a back-to-back RBI singles off the bats of Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe and Ripken Reese.
The Flashes would bring two more runs across in the bottom of the second thanks to a Sawyer Solitaria RBI single and a Hunter Klotz bases loaded walk. Ball State would answer back with one of their own in the top of the third.
Kiracofe would come into score on an infield single by Matthews in the bottom of the fifth.
The teams exchanged blows again the sixth with the Cardinals scoring two in the top half and the Flashes would score one thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Reese.
Ball State would complete their comeback in the eighth scoring four to tie the game up at eight runs apiece.
Ball State would threaten in the top of the ninth, but Kiracofe would make a diving play in center that the Cardinals base runner thought was caught and the batter over ran him and was ruled out on the play. Benny Roebuck would get the Flashes out of the inning on a strikeout and batter's interference.
Williams would play hero in the bottom of the ninth hitting a walk off sacrifice fly out to center that would score Jatczak from third. The walk off is the Flashes third in the last two weeks and second by Williams in that time.
Jacob Bean got the start on the mound for the Flashes and pitched 5.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out six Cardinals. Kent State would then turn to Caden Leonard and Peyton Cariaco who combined for 1.2 innings allowing four runs. Roebuck would get the win and close the door for the Flashes getting the final two outs and recording one strikeput. The Kent State defense stepped up big time turning three double plays.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will face off with the top seeded Miami RedHawks Saturday afternoon in Avon. First pitch from Crushers Stadium is set for approximately 2 p.m.
