Sports
Ohio Baseball: ‘Cats Overpowered by Kent State in Series Opener
By: Bryan Kurp
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ATHENS, Ohio – Entering Friday night, Edward Kutt IV had just a 1.64 ERA in 17 appearances, including three starts. In his three starts, Kutt IV had not given up a home run.
Kent State (20-19, 8-6 MAC) hit three home runs off Kutt IV and took game one of the series, 12-3, over Ohio (14-25, 8-8 MAC).
Kutt IV (3-2) allowed eight runs, six earned, on ten hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
Kent State finished the night with 12 hits. John Matthews, Ben Carew, and Cam Touchette each had three hits. Connor Wollersheim threw a quality start for the Golden Flashes – allowing only one run on four hits in six innings pitched.
Rudy Rott led the way for Ohio with three hits. Aaron Levy had two hits and Michael Richardson added a hit. The Bobcats finished the game with six hits.
The Golden Flashes got on the board in the first inning off a Kian O’Brien double that plated two runs.
Matthews added to the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run off the batter’s eye in straightaway center field. Three batters later, Carew launched a long home run over the wall in left field. The two home runs put Kent State up 4-0 after four innings.
Pavin Parks added a run for the Golden Flashes in the fifth inning with a solo home run. Kent State added three more runs in the inning to take an 8-0 lead.
Richardson got the Bobcats on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a single down the right field line that scored Levy.
Levy hit a two-run homer to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh.
Kent State and Ohio meet again Saturday at Bob Wren Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Jack Liberatore (5-4, 2.52 ERA) will get the start for Ohio and Trevor Pittman (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will start for the Golden Flashes.