The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Baseball Ends Season with 2-1 Defeat at Kent State
May 19 | Baseball
KENT, Ohio – Despite a superb effort from senior Alex Loftin, The University of Akron baseball team suffered a season-ending 2-1 loss to Kent State on Saturday at Schoonover Stadium.
The loss coupled with Buffalo's win over Bowling Green means the Zips (17-38, 10-17 Mid-American Conference) will miss out on the 2012 Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The game was also being contested as part of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge.
Loftin (3-4) threw his second complete game of the season, two-hitting the KSU lineup with four strikeouts and one walk. One of Kent State's base knocks was a bloop double. Sophomore Tyler Begun produced the lone UA run, homering in the top of the fourth.
David Lyon and George Roberts each tallied an RBI for Kent State (37-17, 24-3). Tyler Skulina (9-2) took the win, allowing one run in six innings.
Begun's sixth homer of the season gave the Zips a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The lead off blast was a line drive over the fence in left.
The Golden Flashes responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Evan Campbell started the inning with bloop double down the line in left. He would score on Lyon's triple to the alley in left center. Lyon would then come in on George Roberts's sacrifice fly to center.
Loftin had been perfect through the first three innings and was outstanding after the fourth, retiring 13 in a row until issuing a two-out walk to Joe Koch in the bottom of the eighth.
KSU's Jimmy Rider kept the game even in the eighth when he dove to keep Matt Rembielak's grounder up the middle from reaching the outfield. Ivory Alexander was on second but had to hold at third as Rembielak reached on the infield single. Josh Pierce then got Sam Watkins to bounce out to first to end the frame.
