Sophomore infielder Greg Rohan slides into home tying Saturday’s game at 1 in the second inning. The Flashes beat the Bobcat’s 6-1, and swept the weekend series from the visiting Bobcats. ELIZABETH MYERS | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: Jason Hall

Kent State was in rare form in its 16-1 win over Ohio yesterday.

Five Kent State hitters had multi-hit days and eight had at least one RBI. Four Kent State pitchers limited Ohio to just three hits on day.

“Everyone was seeing the ball really well,” senior third baseman Andrew Davis said. “Hitting is really contagious; once one hits, everyone starts hitting.”

The first inning of the game set the tone for Kent State (20-23, 11-7 Mid-American Conference).

Sophomore shortstop Chris Tremblay led off the game with a walk and then proceeded to steal both second and third base. He would later score on an RBI single by Davis.

After stolen bases by Davis and sophomore second baseman Doug Sanders, sophomore Greg Rohan cleared the bases with the first of his two home runs to give Kent State a 4-0 lead.

The four-run lead was more than enough for sophomore starter Chris Carpenter.

In front of several scouts, Carpenter pitched five innings and struck out four while scattering two hits and surrendering one run. This was Carpenter’s longest outing of the year – an injury kept him out all of last season.

“I was fortunate that we got a couple runs in the first inning,” Carpenter said. “It’s a lot easier to pitch with a lead. I had good control, and my stuff was good.

“It’s great to be back on the mound. It’s been almost two years since I started on this field. This is kind of a special day. I won’t forget it.”

After Carpenter’s departure, three relievers came on to give up one hit over the final four innings. The Flashes bullpen has now pitched 16 straight scoreless innings.

“We have so many arms on this staff,” coach Scott Sticklin said. “It is a luxury to have as a coach. You know there are six or seven guys you can give the ball to out of the bullpen and know that they are going to get it done.”

Davis ended up 5-for-6 with a home run, five RBIs and was just a triple short of the cycle.

“He started me off with a change-up outside,” Davis said of his home run. “Then he hung a curve ball, and I just tried to get a good swing on it and get it up in the air.”

Sanders added two RBIs, and Tremblay had a three-hit day to go along with three runs scored. In all, the Flashes had 18 hits.

The Flashes also beat the Bobcats Friday, 8-2, and Saturday, 6-1. Evan Smith (3-4) and Dominique Rogers (3-4) both recorded victories.

With the sweep, Kent State stayed one game back of MAC East leader Miami, who took three games from Bowling Green over the weekend.

Stricklin said Kent State is playing its best baseball of the year.

“We did what we needed to do in all three phases,” Stricklin said. “We swung the bat well, had good pitching and played great defense. If you do those three things, you have a chance to win a lot of games.”

Kent State will next play 7 p.m. tomorrow at Youngstown State.

Contact baseball reporter Tyler McIntosh at [email protected].

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ELIZABETH MYERS | DAILY KENT STATER