The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Baseball Falls in MAC Championship to Kent State, 3-0
May 25 | Baseball
Follow Zips Baseball on Twitter (@ZipsBB) and Facebook
AVON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team fell in the Mid-American Conference Championship to Kent State University on Sunday afternoon at All Pro Freight Stadium by a final score of 3-0. This was Akron's second overall MAC Championship appearance and the first since 1996.
Junior left-hander Pat Dyer made a spectacular start on Sunday, turning in 7.1 innings with one run allowed. Dyer struck out three, while inducing three groundball double plays in his time in the mound. He was tagged with the loss to drop his season record to 4-5.
UA threatened to score in the second, after Kris Simonton reached on a single and advanced to third on a Brady Stewart single to center. Third-year head coach Rick Rembielak called for a suicide squeeze with Joey Havrilak at the plate, but the bunt went for a popup to KSU's catcher, Jeff Revesv.
Following the second, the game was a heated pitcher's duel between Akron's Dyer and Kent State's Michael Clark. Clark was dominant in 6.2 innings with four hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts.
KSU reliever John Fasola relieved Clark and was equally effective. The right-hander earned the win, following 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the MAC Championship game.
Redshirt freshman Evan Jensen relieved Dyer with one out in the eighth, but allowed a game-deciding two-run double to Zarley Zalewski. Jensen recorded one out before being replaced by Josh Davis, who allowed a RBI base hit. Davis ended the frame on a fly out.
Akron went down in order to end the game, and give the Golden Flashes a 3-0 win in the final MAC Tournament game.
Dyer, Matt LaRocca, and John Valek III were named to the MAC All-Tournament team for their performances in Akron's run to the championship.
UA totaled five base hits in the loss. James Meeker III, Daulton Mosbarger, Matt Rembielak, Simonton, and Stewart had one hit apiece in the contest. Rembielak recorded Akron's lone walk.
Akron finishes the 2014 season with a 28-29 overall record.
