Bowling Green State University
Kent State
Kent State Defeats Falcon Baseball, 4-3
April 23, 2004 | Baseball
April 23, 2004
Kent, Ohio - Kent State scored a run in both the seventh and eighth innings to break a 2-2 contest and went on to defeat visiting Bowling Green on Friday afternoon, 4-3, at Gene Michael Field in Kent, Ohio. Five of the seven runs scored in the game were unearned as both teams combined for five errors, including three by the Falcons.
It was BGSU which took advantage of a miscue first in the second inning. With Jeff Warnock on second base and Jimmy Lipari on first base with two outs, BGSU called for a double steal. KSU catcher Will Vazquez' throw down to third base sailed down the left-field line, allowing both runners to score and give the Falcons a 2-0 lead.
KSU cut into the deficit with a run in the bottom of the third inning with a two-out error by Eric Lawson. The Flashes then tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning with a Vasquez sacrifice fly to left field. In the fifth inning, junior Tyler Saneholtz left the game and was replaced by sophomore Tyler Johnson. Saneholtz allowed two runs (one earned) while walking four and striking out three.
The home team took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kurt Eichorn scored for third base via a passed ball by Kevin Longstreth. KSU added another run in the eighth inning when Emmanuel Burriss scored from third base with two outs after an error by Jimmy Lipari.
The Falcons cut into the lead with a run in the top of the ninth inning. Nolan Reimold and Josh Dietz slapped back-to-back singles to begin the frame and were moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt from Warnock. Lipari grounded out, which scored Reimold, but Bobby Majer grounded out to end the game.
Johnson (4-1) pitched 3.2 innings of relief and allowed two runs (both unearned) on just one hit with two walks and two strikeouts to pick up his first loss of the season. Andy Sonnanstine (6-4) pitched 8.1 innings for KSU, allowing three runs (one earned) on two walks and seven strikeouts for the win. Chad Wagler picked up his third save of the season.
BGSU falls to 19-11 overall and 6-7 in the MAC while KSU improves to 20-19 overall and 7-6 in the MAC. The two teams play game two of the three-game series on Saturday, April 24, at 1 p.m.
