Kent State's Two-Out Hits Drop Chippewas, 6-3

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MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan dropped game two of its series versus Kent State Saturday at Theunissen Stadium, 6-3.

The Golden Flashes (22-16, 11-3 MAC) scored all six of their runs with two outs to even the series, despite striking out 12 times. The Chippewas (17-23, 7-7 MAC) have now recorded 25 strikeouts in the first two games of the series.

Kent got its first two-out RBI in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead when George Roberts doubled to right center, scoring Jimmy Rider.

The Chippewas tied the game in the bottom of the second, 1-1, but were unable to take advantage of a key opportunity in the same frame. Senior William Arnold led off with a single, senior Nate Theunissen followed with a double to right field and senior Sam Russell walked to load the bases before freshman Joe Houlihan hit a RBI single to center field two batters later.

With the bases still loaded, redshirt freshman Pat MacKenzie hit a line shot right at the first baseman who was just able to make a reactionary catch and redshirt freshman Nick Regnier grounded into a fielder's choice leaving the bases loaded.

A pair of doubles by Rider and David Lyon to lead off the third gave the Golden Flashes the lead right back, 2-1, before two more runs in the top of the fourth extended the lead to 4-1 and chased junior Pat Kaminska from the game.

Kaminska gave up nine hits in his four innings of work, but was able to get five strikeouts to keep the game within reach for the Chippewas before being pulled in favor of redshirt freshman Dylan Rheault.

Rheault held Kent State to just two hits over the final five innings of work and despite single runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, the Chippewas made one last attempt at a rally.

Arnold hit a single with one out in the eighth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a RBI single up the middle by Russell, pulling CMU within four, 6-2.

Junior Reid Rooney then came on to pinch hit for the Chippewas and hit a high fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly that plated Theunissen, while also moving Russell up to second. Houlihan then came to the plate and hit a ball that was lost in the sun by center fielder Evan Campbell, but T.J. Sutton came all the way from right and made a sliding catch in center to prevent disaster for KSU and end the rally.

The Chippewas got a leadoff walk from MacKenzie in the bottom of the ninth after a pair of strikeouts and pick off by Rheault in the top of the inning, but Brian Clark came on and got pinch hitter Tyler Huntey and Hall to strike out and induced a fly out by Dean to end the game.

Arnold led the way at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Russell and Hall each finished the game with two hits as well.

Rider went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI to lead the Golden Flashes and Derek Toadvine went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Sunday's rubber match will begin at 1:05 p.m. at Theunissen Stadium with CMU's Rick Dodridge taking on Kent State's Tyler Skulina.  