In the series opener against Central Michigan University, the Kent State baseball team was trailing entering the bottom of the seventh inning Friday afternoon. But after that frame, the Flashes regained the lead for good.

Senior Dom Iero drove in the game’s winning run in the seventh on a single and sophomore Josh Hollander then put his team up by two, securing a 9-7 Kent State (26-12, 11-2 Mid-American Conference) win over the Chippewas (22-19, 10-3 MAC) at Schoonover Stadium.

The win propelled the Flashes to first place in the Mid-American Conference standings.

Redshirt junior Jared Skolnicki, who pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief of junior starter Eli Kraus, was credited with the win, his second of the season. Kraus went 6 1/3 innings on the mound, surrendering five runs on four hits while striking out four. Patrick Dayton picked up the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Iero led the Flashes offensively with three runs batted in on a 2-4 performance from the plate, while junior catcher Tim DalPorto chipped in two RBIs on two hits.

Central Michigan struck first, scoring four runs in the top of the first courtesy of homers by Daniel Jipping and Robert Greenman. Kent State took its first lead in the fourth on an Iero double down the line, and DalPorto singled in another run in the following inning.

But Central Michigan regained the lead, 7-6, on an Evan Kratt sacrifice fly to center field in the top of the seventh. The Flashes, however, went ahead by two in the bottom of the frame, and Skolnicki and redshirt junior Patrick Dayton closed it out, securing the team’s seventh win in a row. 

Kent State and Central Michigan continue the three-game weekend series at home Saturday at 4 p.m.

Nick Buzzelli is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].