TEMPE Ariz. – Kent State jumped out to  a 3-1 lead, but the Golden Flashes could not overcome 15 unanswered runs by Oral Roberts as the Golden Eagles won 15-10. Kent State ends its season with a 43-17 record, the third most wins in school history (45 in 1992 and 44 ’83).

“I told my team that the further you go and the more success you have the tougher it is to end," said head coach Scott Stricklin. "It’s that much tougher when you go this far. I’m very proud of my team. We could have very easily folded but we battled and fought back. The kids had fun. The guys were laughing and having a good time. Our guys believed we were going to win that game. I’m really proud of the way they competed and didn’t quit. If we’re going to lose we’re going to go out swinging and I think that’s very fitting for our team.”

With six assists in the game, senior Chris Tremblay became the career assists leader in school history (591), two more than previous record-holder Jim Givens (1988-91).

“It’s an honor," said Tremblay "I knew at the beginning of the year I had a shot. My coaches really stressed to me that I had to improve my defense. It was something I would have liked to achieve and it’s really an honor.”

Tremblay also led the KSU offense with three hits in six at-bats for two runs scored and an RBI. Fifth-year senior Greg Rohan had three hits in five at-bats with two RBI and a run scored in his final game in a KSU uniform.

Also in his final game, senior Brad Winter had two hits in as many bats off the bench and added an RBI and run scored.

Sophomore Kyle Hallock fell to 4-3 on the year, giving up 12 runs (six earned) on 11 hits while striking out four. Andre Lamontagne threw six innings for the Golden Eagles, allowing three unearned runs on nine hits and struck out one.

Tremblay led off his third-straight game with a single and scored on a throwing error by the Golden Eagles shortstop with two outs. Rohan advanced to second and scored on senior Jason Patton’s RBI single up the middle.

Oral Roberts cut the deficit in half with a solo home run in the second, but KSU answered in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Jimmy Rider walked to leadoff the game, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch.

However, Oral Roberts scored 15 unanswered runs with nine runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. The Golden Eagles recorded nine hits in the fourth and sent 12 men to the plate. With one out, P.J. Sequira began the rally with a double and capped the nine-run outburst with a two-run home run to left. A two-run home run by Kyle Price, Juan Martinez and a solo shot by Seth Furmanek in the fourth made it 15-3 after five innings.

Freshman Kyle McMillen came into the ballgame in the seventh for KSU in the seventh and allowed the first two ORU batters to reach but struck out the side. Freshman David Starn threw a 1-2-3 eighth while junior Jon Pokorny set the Golden Eagles in order in the ninth.

Kent State mounted a rally in the eighth when the first eight KSU hitters reached an seven runs scored, but the outburst was too little, too late. Freshman Travis Shaw led off the inning with a single and advanced to second when senior Ryan Mitchell was hit by a pitch. Freshman David Lyon broke the five-inning scoring drought with an RBI single followed by an RBI hit by Tremblay. Sophomore Ben Klafczynski loaded the bases on catcher’s obstruction and Winter drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI single.

Still in the eighth, Oral Roberts brought in Chandler Griffin and the hit parade continued. Rohan drove in two more runs with an RBI single and an RBI groundout by Patton brought the Golden Flashes within six at 15-9. Shaw drove in the seventh run with his second hit of the inning, but Mitchell grounded into a double play to end the eighth.

Kent State went in order in the ninth as Oral Roberts reached the regional finals against Arizona State with the 15-10 win.

“Even though we were a four seed there was no doubt that we could make it," said Winter. "Today we could have very easily folded but we just kept battling back. It’s a tough way to end the season but it was a great time being out here.”