For the 11th game in a row, BGSU baseball (16-5, 7-0) came out with the win by way of an 11-10 defeat of Kent State (8-11, 2-2).
This also marks the third game in a row and the seventh game of the season where at least 10 Falcon baserunners crossed home plate.
The victory marks just the sixth time in program history the Falcons have had an 11-game winning streak and just the third time they have started 7-0 in conference play.
The Golden Flashes got off to a quick start in the top of the first, with graduate third baseman Hayden Jatczak sending a ball deep into the trees for his third home run of the year and a 1-0 Kent State lead.
In the third, BGSU starter DJ Newman (2.0 innings, two hits, one run, one walk, four strikeouts) was pulled by head coach Kyle Hallock due to his high pitch count, and Hallock called on junior pitcher Ty Roder.
Before Roder was able to settle in, the Golden Flashes were able to add two runs off of a Jatczak walk, followed by a two-run home run by senior right-fielder Jake Casey.
The Falcons were able to tally one of their own, though, off of a home run by sophomore centerfielder TJ Takats.
The Falcons were able to put it all together in the bottom half of the fourth inning, off of a lead-off home-run by Brady Birchmeier, a two-run home run by Gavin Ganun, and a run batted in (RBI) single by Garrett Wright, making the game 5-3 in favor of BGSU.
The Golden Flashes were able to claw one back in the fifth with a sacrifice fly by Brody Williams.
Hallock was forced to end Roder’s day and tapped on Falcon junior pitcher Kade Arn.
The Golden Flashes were able to record one of their two runs in the sixth off of a wild pitch by Arn, but after a walk and a strikeout, Hallock made another change on the mound and brought in redshirt freshman pitcher Titus Lotz.
Lotz then gave up a walk to \Jatczak, then Casey hit into fielder’s choice to Falcon second-baseman Sam Seidel, which brought the second run of the frame across for the Golden Flashes. What once was a 5-3 Falcon lead quickly became a 6-5 Golden Flashes lead.
The Falcons evened the game at six up off Wright’s sacrifice fly, but not before the Falcons used two bullpen arms, and the Golden Flashes used one of their own.
Kent State started off the top of the seventh with the bases juiced, off of two walks and a single by Alejandro Covas. Jatczak was able to bring redshirt sophomore infielder Ripken Reese home to score with a single to center field, which made the game 10-6.
Hallock then made his final pitching change of the day, bringing in redshirt freshman Nate Kress, who did not give up a run in 2.1 innings pitched.
Even with their backs on the ropes, the Orange and Brown never stopped clawing their way back into this game. Newman blasted a ball into the right-centerfield trees before Birchmeier crossed the plate.
Ganun poked a single into right field, scoring Seidel from third and bringing BG within one run after seven innings, 10-9.
Senior left-handed pitcher Peyton Cariaco would finish the game on the mound for Kent State, giving up two runs in 1.2 innings.
Cariaco sailed a fastball to the backstop, and Wright came across to square the game up at an even 10 runs apiece. In the top half of the ninth, the Falcon defense was able to catch Jatczak asleep on the bases, and after a strong throw by Takats and an even smoother pick by Birchmeier, were able to turn another double play and bring the Falcon bats to the plate in the ninth with the game tied at 10.
Takats was able to drive the nail into the Kent State coffin with a groundball that was booted around on the right side of the infield to bring home Gunner Antillon. Takats was able to seal the game for the Falcons and seal Kress’ second win of the season. The loss was given to Kent State’s Cariaco, his second of the season.
The BGSU win over Kent State adds to their season-high 11-game win streak and extends their lead in the MAC by a half-game over second-place Miami (12-10, 7-1).
The Orange and Brown are back at it on Saturday at 1:00, with Falcon Media Sports Network’s Tyler Kavalecz and Rhys Patrykus on the call, available on Falcon Radio.
