Falcons Fall To Kent State, 9-3, Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, May 9

Kent, OH

1:00 p.m. ET

Bowling Green State University

19-26, 11-12

Kent State

28-19, 15-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bowling Green	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	3	5	2
Kent State	2	1	3	1	0	0	0	2	X	9	15	1

May 09, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

The Golden Flashes scored in each of the first four innings to pull away from the Orange and Brown.

By: by James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications

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KENT, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team dropped the second game of a Mid-American Conference three-game set to Kent State, 9-3, at Schoonover Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Falcons – who are now 19-26 (11-12 MAC) – will look to salvage the series tomorrow. Kent State improves to 28-19 (15-8 MAC) with the victory.

The Golden Flashes scored at least one run across each of the first four innings to jump out to a 6-1 lead. Kent State plated two in the first, three in the third, and one apiece in both the second and fourth. Bowling Green starter Andrew Lacinak was chased from the ballgame with two down in the third. Lacinak was charged with six runs (three earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Trevor Blaylock took over for Lacinak, and stabilized things nicely. And for the first time in the contest – in the fifth – Kent State was shutout. Blaylock went on to blank the Golden Flashes over the sixth and seventh, as well. Blaylock pitched into the eighth, but surrendered two in that frame that pushed Kent State's lead up to 9-3. Rob Zenas took over and quickly induced an inning-ending double play to work out of the jam.

Brandon Howard almost singlehandedly produced Bowling Green's first two runs. Howard put the Falcons on the board in the fourth after he led off the frame with a walk. Howard then advanced to second on a Matt Smith single, swiped third and then stole home. After Greg Basalyga struck out and ran to first on the dropped third strike, Howard raced home on the throw over to first that retired Basalyga. The run cut Kent State's advantage down to 6-1.

In the sixth, after Kent State earned the run back in the bottom of the fourth, Howard coaxed a one-out walk. An errant pickoff attempt moved Howard up two bases, before Trey Keegan knocked him home with a groundout to short.

In the eighth, it was Howard again. Bien doubled with one down in the frame, and after Kory Brown was set down, Howard sliced a single into right that plated Bien. At the time, it trimmed KSU's lead to 7-3.

Eric Lauer picked up the win for the Golden Flashes. The left-hander logged seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Lauer carved up five and issued three free passes.

Along with Howard's big day, Smith went 2-for-4. Bien added a hit and a run, while Basalyga chipped in with a hit himself.

Zac Carey will take the mound tomorrow at noon for the Orange and Brown. The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but will be moved up an hour in fear of incoming weather. Carey is 5-0 and owns a 1.84 ERA in conference play.