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KENT, Ohio (May 17) - The top-seeded Kent State University Golden Flashes (40-16)
hit three home runs, two by catcher Alex Marconi , to defeat
sixth-seeded Northern Illinois University (24-32) 10-4 in the third game
of the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament May 17 at Gene
Michael Field in Kent, Ohio. It was Kent's 40th win of the season.
Northern Illinois scored a run in the first inning after starting
the game with two singles. After a line out, designated hitter Adam
Seyb singled in leftfielder John Brock .
Kent opened the first inning with a single by designated hitter
Pat O'Brien . After a fielder's choice, Marconi homered over the
left field fence. Leftfielder Dave Mattle followed with a bomb
to centerfield, his ninth of the season. Rightfielder Ty
Carpenter 's sacrifice fly brought in the fourth Kent run of the
inning. Marconi came back in the second, hitting a three-run shot to
deep center field. Mattle followed with a one-out double and Carpenter
singled him home that gave Kent an 8-1 lead.
The Huskies answered in the third inning with a three-run home run
to right field by first baseman Joe Milroy , cutting the Golden
Flash lead to 8-4. It was his sixth home run of the season.
A sacrifice fly by first baseman John VanBenschoten in the
fourth inning gave Kent its ninth run. Kent ended the scoring as second
baseman Jess Bechard scored from third base on a wild pitch.
Marconi had five runs-batted-in for Kent and Mattle went 4-for-4
with two runs scored.
"I was as nervous for this game as I have been for any tournament
game," Kent head coach Rick Rembielak said. "The guys were a lot
looser than I was. But to be in the winner's bracket is a gratifying
thing."
"I think Kent showed why they won the league," Northern Illinois
head coach Dave Schrage said. "We used all of our pitching over
the weekend to get here and I asked Dan (Badgeley) to go on three days
rest. Usually, seniors step up and Marconi sure did today."
Redshirt sophomore Dustin Sampson picked up the win for Kent,
raising his record to 6-3. Dan Badgeley took the loss as his record
fell to 4-7.
Kent will play Thursday against Ball State University at 1 p.m.
Northern Illinois will play Central Michigan University game in an
elimination game Thursday at 10 a.m.