The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Falls in 12 Innings to Kent State
May 20 | Baseball
KENT, Ohio - A 12th-inning walk-off home run by David Lyon sent #28 Kent State to 6-5 win over The University of Akron baseball team Friday afternoon at Olga Mural Field.
Chris Bassitt was handed the loss after the junior closer pitched an outstanding 4.0-innings out of the bullpen before allowing the home run to Lyon to began the 12th. Bassitt allowed just two hits and struck out four. Junior Drew Turocy batted 4-for-6 with a pair of RBIs and Dan Burant collected three base hits and scored twice.
Ben Klafczynski had given the Golden Flashes (39-13, 21-4 Mid-American Conference) a one-run lead when he hit a three-run longball in the bottom of the seventh. Akron freshman Kurt Gamby brought the Zips (15-37, 6-20) right back with a lead-off solo home run into the wind to straight away left field in the top of the eighth. It was the rookie's fourth bomb of the season and his third in the last week.
Neither squad was able to advance a runner past first between the Gamby homer and Lyon's blast in the 12th as Bassitt and KSU reliever Justin Gill were both dealing in the games final four innings.
The Zips took advantage of a pair of errors on KSU first baseman George Roberts to plate a pair of runs in the top of the third. After Burant led the inning off with a single to right center, Roberts misplayed back-to-back sacrifice bunts by Jared Turocy and Tyler Begun to load the bases. Sam Watkins brought Burant home with a sacrifice fly and Drew Turocy singled in Jared Turocy for a 2-0 Akron lead.
Akron starter Alex Loftin - aided by a pair of double plays - pitched a scoreless first four innings of the contest before KSU struck for a pair in the bottom of the fifth. A pair of singles through the infield and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out and after Evan Campbell struck out swinging, Jimmy Rider singled and Travis Shaw hit a sacrifice fly to tie the contest.
Loftin came back to pitch a shutout sixth before handing things over to the Akron bullpen. Loftin allowed eight hits and struck out a pair in his 6.0 innings of work.
Akron regained the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh off reliever David Starn. Burant and Jared Turocy both singled with one out and advanced to second and third on a Starn wild pitch. Sam Watkins then drew a two-out walk to load the bags and Drew Turocy brought a run home with an infield single. Brandon White then walked to give Akron a 4-2 advantage.
Akron will finish off the 2011 season tomorrow with the series finale with Kent State. First pitch is at 1:00 p.m. at Mural Field.
