The Kent State baseball team came out of the weekend series against Miami (OH), knowing it needs to be more consistent the rest of the season if they want repeat as Mid-American Conference regular season champions.

The Flashes split the Saturday doubleheader, losing game one, 2-3, and taking game two, snapping the RedHawks 14-game winning streak 12-2, while dropping the series finale, 5-1.

“We have a ways to go, we aren’t done yet” coach Jeff Duncan said. “This series was a good challenge for us moving forward. “We have to find ways to get more baserunners and become more consistent.”

Kent State struggled finding runs, but did find a bright spot tying the season-high in hits, collecting 16 in the 12-2 win.

The two losses saw the Flashes go scoreless until the later innings. Kent State got those baserunners off the bats of two pinch-hitters, giving the Flashes some life.

 

“In the two games we lost, we kind of came alive towards the end,” freshman Justin Kirby said. “If we play a full nine innings and keep that energy I think we could’ve snuck away with two more wins.”

The Flashes failed to find hits in the losses, giving the RedHawks pitchers confidence. In the losses, both Miami starters threw seven scoreless innings.

“We have some guys that can run,” Duncan said. “We have to be able to be creative as far as bunt-base hits go to get them out of rhythm in order to get those baserunners. “We were hoping for a better start in the losses, but it just didn’t happen.”

Kent State moves into the week with two road games against the University of Dayton on Tuesday and a Wednesday matchup with Indiana University before a weekend road series against Ball State University.

Kent State currently is 9-12 after the weekend and it will face Dayton on Tuesday.

 John Conley is a sports reporter. Contact him at [email protected].