Baseball

MAC Baseball Weekend Results: Four Teams Earn Series Sweeps

Weekend MAC Baseball Results
Western Michigan at Central Michigan
Game 1: Central Michigan 8, Western Michigan 7 (Box Score)
Game 2: Western Michigan 9. Central Michigan 8 (Box Score)
Game 3: Central Michigan 6, Western Michigan 3 (Box Score)

Northern Illinois at UMass
Game 1: UMass 4, Northern Illinois 0 (Box Score)
Game 2: Northern Illinois 6, UMass 4 (Box Score)
Game 3: Northern Illinois 6, UMass 0 (Box Score)

Eastern Michigan at Toledo
Game 1: Toledo 10, Eastern Michigan 2 (Box Score)
Game 2: Toledo 6, Eastern Michigan 4 (Box Score)
Game 3: Toledo 23, Eastern Michigan 8 (Box Score)

Ball State at Miami 
Game 1: Miami 14, Ball State 4 (Box Score)
Game 2: Miami 20, Ball State 4 (Box Score)
Game 3: Miami 7, Ball State 6 (Box Score)

Akron at Bowling Green
Game 1: Bowling Green 6, Akron 2 (Box Score)
Game 2: Bowling Green 9, Akron 8 (Box Score)
Game 3: Bowling Green 9, Akron 6 (Box Score)

Kent State at Ohio
Game 1: Kent State 11, Ohio 5 (Box Score)
Game 2: Kent State 15, Ohio 1 (Box Score)
Game 3: Kent State 16, Ohio 2 (Box Score)

Western Michigan at Central Michigan
Game 1: Central Michigan 8, Western Michigan 7 (Box Score)
Cameron Niehaus, the fourth CMU pitcher, notched the victory with two innings of relief in the series opener.

Bryson Webb had three hits and Prout and Zach Knowlton had two apiece to lead the Chippewas at the plate.

CMU led, 7-6, with two out in the eighth on Thursday when Nolan Zajac singled in a run to tie it. That's when the lightning flashed and the game was suspended and everybody went home.

Picking it up on Friday morning, Niehaus got the final out of the inning on a grounder.

Miguel Correra Jr. singled with two out in the ninth and then Prout, a left-handed hitter, went opposite field, lifting a double to the gap in left-center and Correa raced home to score the winning run.

Game 2: Western Michigan 9. Central Michigan 8 (Box Score)
In game two, Central Michigan took an early edge with a pair in the bottom of the second. The home team then added one in the fifth to extend the margin to 3-0.
 
The Broncos had opportunities early, including stranding a pair in both the fourth and fifth frames before breaking through in the sixth. After back-to-back singles opened the frame, Mason Pilarski sacrificed to move the runners up a base. Avery Thielman then came through with a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to get WMU on the board. Thielman brought Western Michigan a run closer in the eighth with another sac fly.

The Chippewas answered with five in their half of the eighth to open up an 8-2 advantage.

Three straight walks to start the ninth loaded the bases for WMU. Michael Maloney and Mark Mennecke were then both hit by pitches to bring in two runs. Josh Polubinski followed with a grand slam to bring the Broncos level, 8-8. Pilarski kept things going for the Brown and Gold with a base hit, scooted over to second on a wild pitch and then over to third on a ground ball. Nolan Zajac then hit a bouncer to the right side and the throw home was late, as Pilarski slid in safely to put Western Michigan on top, 9-8

Game 3: Central Michigan 6, Western Michigan 3 (Box Score)
Gavin Moczydlowsky, a junior transfer from Michigan State, made his first start as a Chippewa in the nightcap and was excellent, striking out four over five scoreless innings.

Jared Hanson went the final three frames in relief for the win.

Hanson allowed two runs on four hits but got cleanup hitter Mark Mennecke on a fly ball for the game's final out, stranding two baserunners.

The combined performances by Moczydlowsky – nicknamed "Muzzy" – and Hanson were sorely needed, Sabol said.

Down 2-1 in the seventh, Brady Krzciok and Knowlton hit back-to-back singles and Loikits reached on a bunt and a muffed throw allowed pinch runner Dominic Bouscher to score the tying run.

Two outs later, Logan Keilen walked to load the bases and then Prout hit his grand slam to left-center – nearly the identical direction that his game-winning double traveled earlier in the day.

This one got up into the wind, which was blowing out to left, and cleared the wall beyond the 375-foot marker.

It was Prout's seventh homer of the season and the 21st of his career.

In his last start, a week ago at Eastern Michigan, Prout was hitless with two strikeouts in seven at-bats in a 15-inning loss.

He reached based nine times in 14 plate appearances against the Broncos.

Northern Illinois at UMass
Game 1: UMass 4, Northern Illinois 0 (Box Score)
Vance Bonior went 2-for-3, which included his first home run of the season, while adding a run and a team-best two RBI. Anthony Tirado, Gavin O'Brien, Will Briggs and Braden Sullivan all had one hit apiece, with Tirado, O'Brien and Reece McCarthy tallying a run. O'Brien and Briggs both had one RBI each.

After a scoreless opening frame, Massachusetts took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. McCarthy led off with a walk, before Bonior recorded a two-run homer to deep left field. It marked the first home run of the season for Bonior.  

The Minutemen extended their lead, 3-0, in the third. Tirado led off the inning with a single up the middle, before stealing second. With two outs, Briggs hit an RBI single up the middle, allowing Tirado to cross the dish.

O'Brien started off the eighth with a solo shot to deep right field to pull UMass ahead, 4-0.

The Minutemen defense held off the Huskies in the final frame to win, 4-0.

Callen Powers (2-3) secured the winning decision for Massachusetts. Starting on the mound, Powers gave up no runs, two hits, four walks and dealt a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven complete innings of work.

Danny Cihocki (2-2) took the loss for Northern Illinois, allowing three run on five hits, walking two and striking out four in six innings.

Game 2: Northern Illinois 6, UMass 4 (Box Score)
The Huskies best chance to get on the board early in game one came in the top of the first. Charlie Parcell led off with a single, then stole second base with one out. Caden Robertson drew a walk to give NIU runners at first at second but the Minutemen's starting pitcher Callen Powers got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
 
UMass went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second on a Vance Bonior two-run home run. The Minutemen extended the lead in the bottom of the third. Anthony Tirado led off with a single, then stole second base. After a ground out and flyout, Briggs hit a single up the middle to score Tirado and put UMass ahead 3-0.
 
NIU got its first two batters on base in the top of the sixth. Cole Smith reached on a single through the left side of the infield, followed by a Robertson walk. Powers then retired the next three Huskies to keep NIU off the board. Gavin O'Brien hit a lead-off home run in bottom of the eighth to give the Minutemen a 4-0 lead.

Game 3: Northern Illinois 6, UMass 0 (Box Score)
AMHERST, Mass. - Carter Cox (St. Peters, Mo./Fort Zumwalt South), Josh Loren (North Liberty, Iowa/Kirkwood CC) and Gavin Micklinghoff (McHenry, Ill./McHenry County College) combined for a four-hit shutout of the UMass Minutemen on Saturday morning as the Northern Illinois University baseball team won 6-0 to win this weekend's series at Earl Lorden Field.

Cox set career-highs Saturday with 12 strikeouts and eight innings pitched. The sophomore allowed three hits and walked two batters on the day. Eight of his first 12 outs recorded came via strikeout. Loren and Micklinghoff both had a strikeout in the scoreless ninth to wrap up NIU's second shutout this season.

"We really needed that from Carter today," said head coach Ryan Copeland. "Our starting pitching has been outstanding all year but we only had 11 innings from them through the first two games. For Carter to go out there and throw eight strong innings was just outstanding."

NIU (18-9, 10-5 MAC) manufactured its first run of the game in the top of the first. Cole Smith (Dubuque, Iowa/Bradley) hit a single up the  middle with one out. Caden Robertson (Magnolia, Texas/Central Oklahoma) followed with a base hit to center, moving Smith to third base. Gavin Baldwin (Nashville, Ill./SEMO) drove in Smith with a sacrifice fly to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

The Huskies grew the lead in the top of the second inning. Cooper Cohn (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) led off with a double and advanced to third on an Ivan Dahlberg (Minooka, Ill./Illinois-Springfield) groundout. With two outs, Nolan Sandee (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) put down a successful squeeze bunt to score Cohn and put the Huskies up 2-0. After a Charlie Parcell (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) walk, Smith hit a single to bring home Sandee and make the score 3-0. Robertson followed with an RBI single of his own to score Parcell and give NIU a 4-0 lead.

UMass (6-17, 2-13 MAC) had a chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the second. Cox hit Reece McCarthy with a pitch, then walked Vance Bonior. Cox stranded both runners on base by retiring the next three Minutemen. That started a stretch of 13 consecutive batters retired which included five straight strikeouts in the third and fourth innings. A one-out double off the bat of Gavin O'Brien was UMass' second hit of the game.

"Anytime you're out there with a lead, you know you don't have to be perfect," Copeland said. "You can allow a baserunner here and there and survive it. It was really good to start off that way and jump on them early. Carter really settled in and the stat line speaks for itself."

NIU tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth. Marcus Romero (Brighton, Colo./South Mountain College) was hit by a pitch leading off the inning. He later stole second and took third on an errant pickoff attempt by UMass pitcher Michael Goodman. Sandee drove him in with a double to make the score 5-0. After a groundout advanced Sandee to third, Smith hit a two-out single to centerfield to bring Sandee around to score and give the Huskies a 6-0 advantage.

"This team has done a really good job of just trying to stay game to game," said Copeland after NIU won its fourth series out of five in Mid-American Conference play. "They understand how to win and do most things very well. When you get the starting pitching we have and play the kind of defense we have throughout the year, it just puts you in positions to be able to go win games late."

Smith tied a season-high with four hits, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBI. The senior second baseman has 10 hits in the last four games. Robertson was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Eastern Michigan at Toledo
Game 1: Toledo 10, Eastern Michigan 2 (Box Score)
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team was locked in a pitchers' duel throughout most of the game until scoring bursts in the sixth and seventh innings gave the Rockets a 10-2 victory over Eastern Michigan at Scott Park on Saturday.

The Rockets (13-15, 9-4 MAC) and Eagles (10-18, 5-8 MAC) were tied 2-2 when Toledo scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. UT tacked on five more runs in the seventh to break the game open. Toledo is now 7-1 in series openers this season, including 5-0 when beginning MAC weekend series.

Junior Cade Baker turned in a four-hit performance, including two doubles with two runs scored. It was his third performance of at least four hits this season. Four other hitters – Liam Arsich, Jacob Payne, Alex McCranie and JP Wagner -- each collected two hits. Wagner totaled three RBIs while Payne and Arsich collected two. Wagner and Payne also hit triples on the day.

Senior Nathan Leininger (6-0) won his sixth consecutive start. The righthander pitched a solid six innings, allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out eight. He had at least one punchout in every inning. Redshirt freshman Nate Langbehn tossed the final three scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Game 2: Toledo 6, Eastern Michigan 4 (Box Score)
Game 3: Toledo 23, Eastern Michigan 8 (Box Score)
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team held off Eastern Michigan, 6-4, in game one of a doubleheader opener, before exploding for a 23-8 victory in game two to lift the Rockets to a weekend sweep over Eastern Michigan on Friday.

Toledo (15-15, 11-4 MAC) took the first game behind a strong start from Hayden Frey and homers from both Jacob Payne and a Cade Baker. In game two, Toledo fell behind 5-1 midway through the fourth, but scored five runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Down 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth, the Rockets put together a 14-run onslaught, including two grand slams, and scored 10 runs before an out was recorded.

UT notched its second sweep and fourth MAC series win in five tries. The Rockets will finish the weekend at least tied for second in the league standings.

Payne and Baker each totaled four hits and a home run across the two games, including their game one homers. Charlie Scholvin and Troy Sudbrook each added three knocks. Junior Carson McCaleb totaled seven RBIs in game two, the most in a game for a Rocket this season. Sudbrook tallied five RBIs for the doubleheader while Payne and Scholvin each had four. Toledo scored 20 runs in a game for the second time this season (21 vs. Northern Illinois, March 13).

On the mound, Freshman Hayden Frey (3-0) had another strong start in game one. He went 5.2 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Michael Fliss earned his second save, tossing the final 3.1 innings of game one with two runs allowed and three strikeouts. In game two, Sam Rufenacht earned his first career winning decision, while Braden Curry and Arturo Ormaza finished the game with scoreless innings apiece.

Ball State at Miami 
Game 1: Miami 14, Ball State 4 (Box Score)
OXFORD, Ohio – The RedHawks beat Ball State 14-4 Thursday in seven innings, winning via the run rule after scoring five runs in the seventh. Evan Appelwick spearheaded the offense, recording five RBIs and three runs, including his 11th home run of the season. Miami moves to 18-10 (8-5 MAC) with the win, while Ball State drops to 15-13 (10-3 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Zac Sohosky pitched two strikeouts and a fielder's choice in the first, getting out of the first inning with 12 pitches.
  • Marcus Dierks came up with a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first and Tommy Harrison singled. Ryan Novak took an HBP to load the bases. With two outs, Dierks scored Miami's first run on a passed ball.
  • Carson Raether recorded a leadoff walk in the second and advanced as Christopher Roa singled to right-center. Appelwick delivered a two-RBI double to extend Miami's lead to three runs, and Harrison recorded his second single of the day to drive in Appelwick, making it a 4-0 game.
  • A strikeout and two groundouts held back the Cardinals in the third. Sohosky and the defense came up with a popout and a double play in the fourth.
  • Ball State pulled back within one run of the RedHawks in the fifth inning as a walk and four back-to-back singles forced in three runs.
  • Harrison sent a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fifth to rebuild a two-run lead for the RedHawks, 5-3.
  • Carson Byers came into the game to pitch in relief in the sixth, surrendering just one run while pulling the RedHawks out of a jam. The run made it a 5-4 ballgame.
  • Diego Cruz led off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle and Dierks walked. Appelwick hit his 11th home run of the year to add three to the tally and make it an 8-4 Miami lead. Novak followed with an insurance solo homer to pull ahead 9-4.
  • Byers held Ball State scoreless in the top of the seventh. In the bottom, Cruz reached first on a wild pitch, setting up Roa for an RBI single. Two walks loaded the bases, and Harrison took an HBP to make it an 11-4 game. Novak immediately followed with a two-RBI single to put Miami ahead by nine. A walk reloaded the bags, and Raether had a walk-off walk, forcing in the run that put Miami ahead by 10 to enact the run-rule.

Game 2: Miami 20, Ball State 4 (Box Score)
OXFORD, Ohio – The RedHawks decimated Ball State Friday 20-4 after four different players hit home runs and Clayton Burke held the Cardinals to eight hits in seven complete innings of work. Tommy Harrison recorded seven RBIs during the contest, bringing his season total to 50. Miami moves to 19-10 (9-5 MAC) with the win, while Ball State drops to 15-14 (10-4 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Miami pulled ahead 2-0 in the first. Harrison and Ryan Novak each walked and Ignacio Gonzalez delivered a two-run single up the middle.
  • Burke pitched a one-two-three inning in the top of the second for the RedHawks. Diego Cruz led off the bottom of the inning with a single and scored as Christopher Roa came up with an RBI bunt single. One more run scored on a single by Harrison.
  • Dominic Krupinski led off the third inning for Miami with a double. Roa walked and Krupinski scored on a single by Marcus Dierks. Evan Appelwick then walked to load the bases and Harrison added four RBIs to his stats by crushing a grand slam to right field. The blast marked his ninth home run of the year. One at bat later, Gonzalez took a solo shot to left field, his fifth home run of the season, to make it a 10-0 lead for the RedHawks.
  • The Cardinals scored their first run of the ballgame in the top of the fourth as the leadoff batter hit a home run to left field. The RedHawks answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with no hits and scoring on a wild pitch to make the score 11-1.
  • Leading off the fifth, Novak hit a home run to right field, his fifth of the year. Gonzalez walked and Carson Raether took a two-run shot to right field to make it 14-1. Still with no outs, Miami loaded the bases and Dierks walked to make it 15-1. Cruz scored as Appelwick grounded out and Harrison hit a two-RBI single to make it an 18-1 game. With two outs, Raether singled to add one more run and cap off the eight-run, four-hit inning for the RedHawks.
  • Jamie Rasmussen recorded a single in the sixth and Miami loaded the bases with an HBP and a walk. Rasumessen scored Miami's 20th run as Keenan Proctor walked.
  • Ball State scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but Burke recorded the final three outs to enforce the run rule and finish his second complete game as a RedHawk, a 20-4 victory.

Game 3: Miami 7, Ball State 6 (Box Score)
OXFORD, Ohio – Miami swept the Ball State Cardinals for the first time since 2007 Saturday with a 7-6 victory, overtaking the Cardinals in the MAC standings. Alex Gay had a clean sheet, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to allow the RedHawks to claim the lead in the sixth. Miami moves to 20-10 (10-5 MAC) with the win while Ball State drops to 15-15 (10-5 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Troy Benko made his first start of the year on the mound for Miami, setting down three-straight batters with just four pitches. He held the Cardinals to just one hit in the bottom of the second.
  • Miami hit the gas in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on two hits. Ryan Novak led off for Miami with a walk and Ignacio Gonzalez singled to put runners at the corners. A single by Diego Cruz scored both runners to give the RedHawks a 2-0 lead.
  • Ball State hit a solo home run in the top of the third, cutting the deficit in half. Tommy Harrison hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning, scoring himself and Marcus Dierks, who had walked, to make it a 4-1 game.
  • Back-to-back doubles in the fourth gave Ball State another run to make the score 4-2. The Cardinals then put two runners on base and hammered a three-run home run to left field to take their first lead at 5-4.
  • Gay struck out two batters in the top of the fifth as a part of a three up, three down inning for the RedHawks.
  • Miami pulled back ahead in the sixth, taking a 6-5 advantage. With Gonzalez aboard, Matthew Buffington pounded a two-run homer to left field to reclaim the lead.
  • The RedHawks surrendered one run in the top of the seventh to make it a tie 6-6 game. In the eighth, Miami turned a double play to hold the tie.
  • Carson Raether hoisted Miami back into the lead in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer to center field.
  • Austin Berggren recorded the final three outs to wrap up a 7-6 win.
Akron at Bowling Green
Game 1: Bowling Green 6, Akron 2 (Box Score)
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team started off the weekend series against Akron with a win on Thursday (April 2), claiming the 6-2 final score. The Falcons struck first with one run in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth to build a 5-0 advantage. Starting in the sixth, the teams traded one-run frames with Akron adding a tally in the sixth and eighth to bookend a BGSU score in the seventh, leading to the 6-2 final. The Falcons and Zips will now conclude the series in a recently changed weekend outlook. The two will play a Friday (April 3) doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Steller Field to wrap up the series.

The Falcons were paced in the game by Ethan Stade on the mound. Stade went seven innings, giving up just one run on six hits and one walk while striking out 10. Stade now has eight or more strikeouts in three consecutive outings and has 10+ twice in his last five appearances. As for the plate, Anthony Mitta led the way with a three-hit, four-RBI day while Sam Seidel added a three-hit day of his own.

Game 2: Bowling Green 9, Akron 8 (Box Score)
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team secured the series sweep over the Akron Zips, taking both games of Friday's (April 3) doubleheader. The Falcons battled back in the first game from a 4-0 deficit to eventually snag a 9-8 victory. As for the second game, the BGSU offense again tallied nine runs, this time in a 9-6 final for the doubleheader and series sweeps. The sweep marks the first of the season for the Falcons and pushes their MAC record to 7-8.

In the first game, the Falcons were sparked by the power bats of Brayden Curlis and Zack Horky, combining for two home runs and five RBI in the sixth inning. As for the second game, it was Alex Laird's speed that led the way, stealing a program and MAC record seven bases, including home, to aid BGSU in the win. 

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1
  • Akron scored two in both the first and second innings for a 4-0 lead
  • The first BGSU hit of the day started off the bottom of the second with a Brayden Curlis double to left. A single by Lance Vickers put runners at the corners before an Alex Laird walk loaded the bases. Zack Horky came through with a single past the shortstop to score both Curlis and Vickers. 
  • In the next at-bat, Griffin Scheiderer laid down a bunt single to load the bases again with Laird scoring later in the inning on a grounder for a 4-3 score through two innings. 
  • Akron added two runs in the fifth inning to push their lead to 6-3. 
  • TJ Takats drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the sixth, setting up a Curlis two-run home run to left center, cutting the score down to 6-5. 
  • Vickers kept it going with a single to center followed by Laird being hit by a pitch to force a pitching change by Akron. Horky welcomed the new arm with a three-run homer to straightaway center to put the Falcons in front 8-6. 
  • Akron tallied two in the eighth inning to knot it up again, 8-8.
  • With two outs in the bottom of the eighth Carter Mottice drew a walk. Sam Seidel came through with a single to right to advance Mottice. An error on the relay in from right on the Seidel knock was enough to score Mottice for a 9-8 BGSU lead. 
Game 3: Bowling Green 9, Akron 6 (Box Score)
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team secured the series sweep over the Akron Zips, taking both games of Friday's (April 3) doubleheader. The Falcons battled back in the first game from a 4-0 deficit to eventually snag a 9-8 victory. As for the second game, the BGSU offense again tallied nine runs, this time in a 9-6 final for the doubleheader and series sweeps. The sweep marks the first of the season for the Falcons and pushes their MAC record to 7-8.

In the first game, the Falcons were sparked by the power bats of Brayden Curlis and Zack Horky, combining for two home runs and five RBI in the sixth inning. As for the second game, it was Alex Laird's speed that led the way, stealing a program and MAC record seven bases, including home, to aid BGSU in the win. 

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2
  • Akron scored a run in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. 
  • The Falcons answered in the bottom half of the inning. Carter Mottice and Sam Seidel began with back-to-back walks with both moving up on a double steal. Later in the inning Brayden Curlis doubled to right, scoring both Mottice and Seidel for a 2-1 BGSU lead. 
  • To begin the bottom of the second Alex Laird legged out a bunt single. He stole second, third, and then home to make it a 3-1 BGSU advantage. 
  • Akron scored twice in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.
  • Zack Horky got the bottom of the fourth started with a ground-rule double to left. Laird drew a walk with both runners moving up on a double steal. Pauly Mancino lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Horky. Later in the inning a bloop single by Mottice brought home Laird for a 5-3 score. 
  • Akron added two more in the fifth inning to tie it again at 5-5.
  • The back-and-forth continued in the bottom of the fifth. Andrew DiLodovico and Curlis led off with back-to-back singles followed by a Vickers walk to load the bases. A ball in play off the bat of Horky scored DiLodovico before a wild pitch brought home Curlis for a 7-5 lead. 
  • Akron again tallied one run in the sixth to cut the deficit down to 7-6.
  • In the seventh inning, Horky singled up the middle before stealing second. Laird then singled up the middle as well with Horky scoring on a throwing error. Laird stayed hot on the bases, stealing second and third to set up another sacrifice fly from Mancino for a 9-6 score through seven innings. 
Kent State at Ohio
Game 1: Kent State 11, Ohio 5 (Box Score)
ATHENS, Ohio — Sawyer Solitaria reached a milestone and then some Thursday night, notching his 100th career hit and adding a home run as part of an 11-hit performance that powered Kent State to an 11-5 victory over Ohio in the opening game of a three-game MAC series at Bob Wren Stadium.

The Golden Flashes improved to 21-7 overall, and 10-3 in MAC play with the win.

Solitaria went 2-for-6 on the night, with his first hit of the game, a double to center field in the fifth inning that scored Brady Marshall, serving as the 100th of his career. He capped his evening in the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field that extended the Kent State lead to 7-4 and began a five-run explosion that put the game away.

Ciaran Caughey continued his dominant 2026 campaign, earning his fourth win of the season (4-0) with six innings of work. He allowed just one run on four hits, walking two and striking out four. The lone run he surrendered came on a Taylor Harris solo home run in the fifth inning. Peyton Williams closed things out with 1.1 innings of work to earn his third save of the season.

Kent State scored in six of nine innings and built its lead methodically before the decisive ninth. Ripken Reese sparked the offense from the three-hole, going 3-for-5 with a triple, a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. Luke Matthews added a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI, three runs scored, and two stolen bases, while Brady Marshall reached base three times and swiped a pair of bags as well.

The Flashes led 4-0 heading into the fifth before Harris's home run cut into the margin. Kent State answered with a two-run sixth as Alejandro Covas scored on a Nolan Belcher single, and Matthews later crossed the plate on an error to push the lead back to 6-1. Ohio pulled within 6-4 with two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth, but the Flashes put the game to rest with five runs in the top of the ninth. Solitaria's home run started it, and run-scoring singles by Matthews and Reese capped the burst.

Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe chipped in two RBIs, and Belcher added two RBIs with just one hit on the night.

Game 2: Kent State 15, Ohio 1 (Box Score)
ATHENS, Ohio — Kent State turned in one of its most dominant performances of the season Friday night, rolling to a 15-1 victory over Ohio in seven innings at Bob Wren Stadium to claim the series and improve to 22-7 overall and 11-3 in MAC play.

Kent State led 2-1 through four before the offense erupted in the fifth. With two on and one out, Marshall delivered a two-run single to left to push the lead to 4-1. Solitaria followed with an RBI walk, and Williams capped the inning with a two-run single to right that made it 7-1.

The sixth inning finished Ohio off. Six more runs crossed on just two hits as the Bobcats issued five walks and were charged with an error while sending seven pitchers to the mound on the night. Luke Matthews and Marshall each drew bases-loaded walks for RBI, and a Nolan Belcher sacrifice fly added another.

Easton Tumis was brilliant on the mound, and the Golden Flashes' offense did everything else, sending 12 batters to the plate in a six-run sixth inning that blew the game open en route to the run-rule finish.

Tumis earned his fifth win of the season (5-2), going five innings and allowing just one run, a third-inning solo home run by Tyler Stack, on four hits. He walked one and struck out six. Brody Krzysiak was equally impressive in relief, tossing two perfect innings with four strikeouts to close it out.

Sawyer Solitaria reached base five times without recording an out, drawing three walks and going 2-for-2 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored. Ripken Reese continued his torrid stretch at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Brady Marshall drove in three runs and reached base three times, while Brody Williams went 1-for-3 with three RBI and scored once before giving way to pinch hitter Grady Mee, who singled home a run in the seventh.

Game 3: Kent State 16, Ohio 2 (Box Score)
ATHENS, Ohio — Kent State capped a dominant three-game sweep of Ohio with a 16-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium, outscoring the Bobcats 42-8 across the series and claiming the program's fifth sweep of the 2026 season. The Golden Flashes improved to 23-7 overall and 12-3 in MAC play.

The Flashes scored in seven of nine innings and never trailed, building an 8-0 lead through five innings before Ohio answered with a pair of solo home runs in the sixth. Kent State responded by adding a single run in the seventh before an explosive seven-run ninth inning put any doubt to rest. 

Ben Rabatin earned his fourth win of the season (4-0), going five innings and allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts. Evan Holewinski was sharp in relief, retiring nine of ten batters he faced with four strikeouts over three innings, and Jordan Kolenda closed it out with a scoreless ninth.

Ripken Reese led the offensive charge, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI, and three runs scored. The two-run homer in the second inning, which also scored Luke Matthews, gave Kent State a 3-0 cushion it would never relinquish. Luke Matthews was a catalyst throughout, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and four runs scored. Sawyer Solitaria provided the knockout blow in the ninth with a three-run home run to center that extended the lead to 15-2, finishing 1-for-4 with three RBI and two walks. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, while Brady Marshall added two hits, an RBI, and two runs scored. Nolan Belcher and Grady Mee each drove in a run, and Matt Thompson capped the scoring with an RBI single as a pinch hitter in the ninth.