The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Baseball Falls to Kent State on Friday, 4-3
May 17 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron (15-36, 10-15 MAC) baseball team lost to Kent State University (33-21, 19-7 MAC) in the second game of the three game Mid-American Conference series by a score of 4-3 on Friday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Freshman John Valek III was the starting pitcher for Akron, and turned in 5.2 innings on the mound with two earned runs allowed and one strikeout. The native of Parkland, Fla., was given a no-decision in the loss.
Kent State plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead over Akron. KSU scored the run – unearned – on a wild pitch by Valek.
The Golden Flashes maintained the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth, when the Zips erupted for a three run rally to take a 3-1 lead.
Matt Rembielak reached first on a wild pitch, and was followed up by Devan Ahart with an infield single to put runners on first and second base. Tyler Begun then singled to center field to score Rembielak for the Zips first run of the game.
Sophomore Matt LaRocca capped off the Akron rally with his second two RBI double in the past two games. LaRocca now leads the Zips in RBI with 27 on the season.
UA held onto the two run lead in the fifth inning before allowing KSU to tie the game at three after scoring two runs in the top of the sixth. Kent State scored the runs on a homerun and RBI single.
Freshman Joe Vazquez was the pitcher of record for Akron, dropping his season record to 0-1 with the loss. Vazquez allowed the winning run in the top of the eighth to the Golden Flashes on a sacrifice fly. The native of Berea, Ohio lasted 1.1 innings on the mound with one run allowed and one walk.
Daulton Mosbarger provided strong relief out of the bullpen, as he went 1.2 scoreless innings with no hits allowed.
Overall, Akron posted four hits by four different players. Ahart, Begun, LaRocca and James Sheltrown registered base hits in the loss to Kent State.
Senior Jared Turocy went hitless on Friday, which ends his consecutive game hit streak at 20 games, a career-high.
The Zips and Golden Flashes will wrap up the three game series on Saturday at 1 p.m., on Lee R. Jackson Field. Freshman Michael Steensen is the probable pitcher for Saturday's contest.
