Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
7-8, 1-3
Kent State
13-4, 3-1
Baseball Falls in 10 Innings at Kent State, 11-10
3/13/2026 7:25:00 PM | Baseball
Knowlton homers twice; Chippewas hit season-high 5 round-trippers
Kent State scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to overcame a 10-4 deficit, and then pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 10th in handing the Chippewas an 11-10 loss on Friday at the Golden Flashes' Schoonover Stadium.
The teams play game 2 of the series on Saturday (3 p.m.) and then close the series on Sunday (1 p.m.).
The Chippewas, who are 7-8, 1-3 MAC, hit a season-high five home runs – two by Zach Knowlton – in building their 10-4 lead.
The Golden Flashes (13-4, 3-1) scored six runs on five hits off two Chippewa pitchers in the bottom of the ninth.
Nolan Belcher doubled leading off the bottom of the 10th and then pinch runner Matt Thompson went third on a single. After a groundout and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Thompson scored when Kolton Schaller was hit by a pitch.
Brady Krzciok, Bryson Webb and Spencer Verburg also homered for the Chippewas, who finished with 12 hits.
It was the second and third home runs of the season for Knowlton, the first for Verburg, the second for Webb, and the fifth for Krzciok, who shared the team lead with Harrison Bowman.
Knowlton also tripled and finished with three RBI, while Verburg also had three hits. It was the second career three-hit day for both players, and the first time Knowlton has homered twice in a game as a Chippewa.
The Golden Flashes hit four home runs on a day with the wind blowing stiffly out to right field.
The loss spoiled another solid start by CMU freshman right-hander Logan Neiswonger, who allowed four runs on six hits and struck out a career-high 14 in seven innings. He left with the Chippewas leading, 8-4.
Neiswonger's strikeout total tied for the most by a Chippewa pitcher since at least 2018. Keegan Batka also struck 14 in a 2-0 win over Northern Illinois on April 28, 2024.
Max Hammond (0-2), who came on with one out in the ninth inning, took the loss. Gave Moczydlowski relieved Neiswonger. Moczydlowski and Hammond combined to surrender seven runs on seven hits.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Peyton Williams (2-0)
L: Hammond, Max (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Correa Jr., Miguel 1
3B: Knowlton, Zach 1
HR: Krzciok, Brady 1 ; Webb, Bryson 1 ; Knowlton, Zach 2 ; Verburg, Spencer 1
RBI: Bowman, Harrison 2 ; Krzciok, Brady 2 ; Webb, Bryson 1 ; Knowlton, Zach 3 ; Verburg, Spencer 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Krzciok, Brady 1 ; Webb, Bryson 1 ; Correa Jr., Miguel 1 ; Knowlton, Zach 3 ; Verburg, Spencer 2 ; Loikits, Drew 1
CS: Verburg, Spencer 1
HBP: Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Verburg, Spencer 1
Batting:
2B: Brody Williams 1 ; Alejandro Covas 1 ; Ripken Reese 1 ; Nolan Belcher 1
HR: Kolton Schaller 1 ; Ripken Reese 1 ; Nolan Belcher 1 ; Max Humphrey 1
RBI: Sawyer Solitaria 1 ; Kolton Schaller 3 ; Brody Williams 1 ; Ripken Reese 3 ; Nolan Belcher 2 ; Max Humphrey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grady Mee 1 ; Sawyer Solitaria 1 ; Kolton Schaller 2 ; Brody Williams 1 ; Alejandro Covas 1 ; Ripken Reese 1 ; Nolan Belcher 2 ; Matt Thompson 1 ; Max Humphrey 1
SB: Max Humphrey 1
HBP: Grady Mee 1 ; Kolton Schaller 1 ; Brody Williams 1
