Baseball

The Kent State baseball team won three games in a four-game series with Florida International University over the weekend.

The Flashes won the series opener 13-5 over the Panthers. Junior Eli Kraus (2-0) earned the win on the mound. He allowed four earned runs in six and two-third innings and struck out three FIU batters.

Junior catcher Tim DalPorto led the way for the Flashes offensively with four hits and three runs batted in. Junior Dylan Rosa added three RBI with a home run and a triple.

The Flashes split the doubleheader on Saturday against the Panthers. Kent State lost the first game 7-6 in 12 innings. DalPorto had three hits and junior Brad Hamilton had a homerun and 3 RBI. Senior Luke Burch added a four-hit effort for the Flashes with a double and triple.

Kent won the second game 3-2 in seven innings. Junior Zach Willeman (2-0) threw a complete game in the victory. He allowed one earned run, four hits and no walks while striking out two.

In the final game of the series, the Flashes won 3-2 once again. Sophomore Joey Murray got the start on mound, threw five and two-third scoreless innings and received a no-decision. The Flashes scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to secure the victory.

The Flashes (6-1) will continue play next week in a tournament in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Softball

The Kent State softball team went 3-2 in the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational over the weekend.

The Flashes fell in the first game of the tournament 1-0 in eight innings to Army West Point. Senior Ronnie Ladines threw a complete game and allowed just one unearned run in the loss.

Kent also lost in the second game of its doubleheader against Albany 8-3. The Flashes committed three errors early and couldn’t come back. Senior Janel Hayes received the loss for the Flashes without giving up an earned run in two-thirds innings.

The Flashes bounced back in the third game of the weekend with a 3-2 victory over Columbia. Ladines earned the win for the Flashes and threw a complete game. She gave up two earned runs and struck out six Columbia batters. Ladines added two RBI offensively to lock up the win.

Kent State won the next game over Stony Brook 11-3. Hayes threw a complete game, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. Junior Holly Speers and sophomore Jen Cader paced the Flashes offensively. Speers had three hits, including a homerun, while Cader added two hits with four RBI.

Ladines topped off her weekend with a complete game, allowing three hits and no earned runs. The Flashes defeated Manhattan 5-2. Kent was well balanced offensively as eight different players recorded a base hit.

The Flashes (7-7) will continue to play in the Kentucky Tournament on March 10.

Scott Lendak is the gymnastics reporter, contact him at [email protected].