Jim Negrych put an end to the Kent State baseball team’s hopes for a win in the steel city shortly after the game began.

Pittsburgh’s Negrych led the Panthers offensive charge in a 12-2 loss for Kent State. It is the Flashes’ (13-9) second straight loss.

By the first inning, the Panthers had already brought in more runs than Kent State would manage all game. The Panthers earned five runs off of two hits in the inning.

Negrych’s three-run homer in the second put the game well out of reach at 8-1. He finished with two homers and five runs on the afternoon.

The Flashes scored a run in the second and in the ninth, but they could not add any more offense as they managed just four hits for the game. Sophomore pitcher John Pacella lasted just 1.2 innings but dropped to 2-1 with the loss. Junior second baseman Drew Saylor had his 13-game hitting streak snapped by going 0-for-3 against Pittsburgh.

—Matt Peters