Last night’s 3-2 loss at Youngstown State was not exactly what the Kent State baseball team wanted heading into a three-game series against Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green this weekend.

The Flashes (29-15) only had six hits last night against the Penguins (20-25), falling far short of the 19 hits they recorded Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

Freshman pitcher Steven Davis took the mound for Kent State for the third time in his career and recorded his first loss. Davis allowed seven of Youngstown State’s nine hits and all three of their runs after only four complete innings.

The Flashes went down early after the Penguins scored two runs in the first inning. Youngstown State’s first two hitters hit two singles to open up the game and senior thirdbaseman Justin Banks doubled down the left field line with two outs to drive the runners in to score.

Kent State could not get anything going until the sixth inning. Senior center fielder Joe Tucker singled to left field and freshman shortstop Chris Tremblay got on base on a fielding error. After they each stole a base, senior leftfielder Kurt Eichorn walked to load the bases.

Tucker scored the Flashes’ first run on a wild pitch, and the Penguins’ sloppy pitching continued. Freshman infielder Ryan Mitchell came into pinch hit and was hit by a pitch, and senior catcher Todd Balduf was walked to advance Tremblay home.

But that wasn’t enough for Kent State. After the sixth inning, the Flashes had only two hits and stranded both men on base.

Youngstown State went through a total of eight pitchers, including seven in the last five innings. Youngstown State sophomore pitcher Ryan Sellman recorded his fifth save of the season. Youngstown State pitcher Chuck Schiffhauer got the win to improve his record to 2-2.

The Flashes are in action next at 3 p.m. tomorrow to open up a three-game series at Bowling Green.

Contact baseball reporter Sean Joseph at [email protected].