The University of Akron Athletics
No. 26 Kent State Slips Past Akron, 12-9 in Game Two
May 09 | Baseball
KENT, Ohio – No. 26 Kent State slipped past Akron, 12-9 in game two on a wild and windy day at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium this afternoon to even the series at one game apiece. Kent would get the better of Akron in the seventh after the Zips claimed an initial 9-6 advantage heading into the home half but would ultimately lose the battle as Kent hammered out five runs to take the lead for good in today's back-and-forth affair.
The Zips drop to 17-31 overall and 10-13 in the Mid-American Conference while Kent State improves too 36-13 and 15-7 in conference play with the win.
Senior Ryne Romick (0-3) took the tough loss out of the Akron bullpen and surrendered a pair of earned runs on one hit while tallying three strikeouts in two innings of work. Alan Morrison nabbed the win for Kent also working from the bullpen in two innings and a third, the senior lefty allowed just four hits, striking out the same number of batters and was the only KSU pitcher who didn't issue a walk in today's game.
Junior Kevin Haas led the Zips offensively with a pair of hits, including his 14th double and eighth home run on the year, driving in three RBI while scoring twice today.
As they did yesterday, the home team jumped ahead early by plating a run in the first inning. The wind factor was established early on as the first of five home runs ensued with a KSU solo shot to left field to put the Golden Flashes ahead, 1-0.
Akron responded in the top of the second to take the lead after junior John Turk singled to lead off and senior Ryan Frazee followed with his 11th homer of the year, a two-run shot off the Kent State scoreboard in right, putting Akron ahead, 2-1. KSU starter Kyle Hallock walked senior Brett Savage before retiring the next batter on strikes. Senior Matt Roberts would work a count full before drawing the second walk of the frame however Hallock would work out the jam after Haas lined out sharply to center field for the second out of the frame before another strikeout retired the side.
The Zips added another run
atop the third after junior Brian
Kordal smashed his fourth home run on the year over the
scoreboard in right field, giving the Zips a two-run cushion,
3-1.
Akron starter freshman righty Alex Loftin ran into trouble in the bottom of the second as Kent State the lead off man reached on a walk before back-to-back singles brought Kent State within one, 3-2. Loftin worked out of the jam, inducing a double play ball and weak ground out to close the inning, stranding the tying run at third.
Senior Phil Bednar was the fourth lead off man to get on base in as many innings, reaching with a base knock up the middle but was picked off at second as Haas replaced him on first, picking up another UA walk. Junior designated hitter Jake Plata came up clutch with a double to the gap in left center, scoring Haas who dove into home headfirst ahead of the tag, hauling all the way from first to put the Zips ahead, 4-2.
In the bottom of the fourth Kent State generated three runs on four hits to take a 5-4 lead. The Golden Flashes led off the frame with a bunt single. With the wind playing tricks at the stadium all day today, a foul ball down the left field line was suddenly gusted back into fair territory to put a pair on base for Kent State. After a double steal, a RBI groundout brought the Golden Flashes within before a two-out triple to right would score the second run of the frame. A double into left provided the last RBI of the inning before UA senior Tom Farmer entered the game to close out the inning for the Zips with a fly out. Loftin tossed 3.2 innings today, allowing five earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts on the day.
Kent added another run in the bottom of the fifth, extending their lead to 6-4. After the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch and stole second, a RBI-single provided the two-run advantage for Kent.
The Zips countered atop the sixth and in similar fashion as Roberts was hit by a pitch with one away before Haas smashed his eighth dinger of the year with a two-run shot over the wall in left, knotting things up at 6-6.
Akron broke the tied ballgame atop the seventh scoring three runs on one hit to claim a 9-6 advantage. Sophomore Brandon White opened the frame with a walk but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice which enabled Turk to reach first base. Frazee followed with a walk before Savage drew a walk as well, facing two pitchers to do so as reliever Brett Weibley was pulled from the game mid-at-bat with a 2-0 count and replaced by Robert Sabo to load the bases. Bednar came up with a key single through the right side to plate Turk for the first run of the frame and keep the bases chugged with Zips. Roberts drew a walk next for the easy RBI as Frazee came in to touch home plate before a Haas RBI groundout followed to score the third run of the frame. With two away, Plata walked to reload the bases, inducing another KSU pitching change with Alan Morrison taking the hill for the Golden Flashes. The Zips would strand three as Morrison successfully retired the side without harm on an inning ending strikeout.
Kent State rallied immediately with a five-run inning in the home half, scoring two quick runs on three consecutive hits with a double, single and triple, doing the damage to bring the game within one run, 9-8. The action would bring Farmer's day to a close as the senior lasted 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits with a strikeout. Romick took the mound to protect a 9-8 lead in Akron's favor with the tying run 90 feet away, however a wild pitch enabled the runner to score and evened things up at nine runs apiece. The next batter also walked and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before Romick retired the next batter on strikes. A clutch two-out two-run homer capped off the KSU scoring and gave Kent the 11-9 edge to close out the seventh.
The Zips were retired in
order atop the eighth before a pair of UA errors and fielder's
choice enabled one more Kent State run to come across on a
sacrifice fly, giving Kent the 12-9 lead and accounting for today's
final.
Akron had a chance to retaliate in the top half of the ninth as
junior pinch hitter Kyle Hallett pushed a one-out single into
right for a base hit and Haas followed with a two-out double down
the left field line, however, Morrison would close out the ninth
with a fly out to end the inning with a pair of Zips left on
base.
Kent has walked a tremendous number of UA batters and with nine
walks issued today has brought the tally to 30 free bases in the
past three games. The Golden Flashes out-hit the Zips 15-12 but
stranded two more runners than Akron this afternoon with 12 in
comparison to Akron's 10.
Akron and Kent State close out the series tomorrow afternoon with
first pitch slated for 1 pm at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover
Stadium. Live stats for the game can be found at www.GoZips.com.
