Huskies Edge Flashes in Opener, 4-3

Friday, April 1

Kent, OH

3:00 PM

Kent State University

9-11

#25 University of Connecticut

18-6

Connecticut

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

4/1/2022 6:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KENT, OHIO- The Golden Flashes came up on the short end of a back-and-forth 4-3 ballgame with the #25 UConn Huskies on Friday afternoon at Schoonover Stadium.

The teams traded leads in the third and fourth before UConn took the lead for good, Kent State had the tying run in scoring position on a pair of occasions but couldn't bring him home.

The Huskies grabbed the game's first lead in the third, using a walk, steal, error and single to push across the first run.

In the bottom half of the inning, Kyle Jackson parked a 3-1 hanging breaking ball over the right field wall for a homer, his third of the season. It also extended his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games, dating back to last season. Justin Kirby followed with one of the most exciting plays in baseball, an inside-the-park home run. Kirby split the left centerfield gap and both Erik Stock and T.C. Simmons left their feet to try and catch the ball. Kirby, hustling all the way reach third as the throw came in from the outfield, the relay from shortstop Bryan Padilla was rushed and way up the line and Kirby had his fourth homer of the year.

The deciding blow in the game came in the fourth inning. Richie Dell battled his control all game and walked the bases loaded. With two out, Zach Bushing cleared the bases with a double off the right-centerfield wall, making it a 4-2 ball game. It would be Dell's last inning of work, the righty went four innings allowing just two hits, but five walks resulted in his four earned runs allowed.

Kent State got a run back in the sixth after Justin Kirby was hit by a pitch, he stole second. Justin Miknis followed with a run-scoring single, he then stole second to get into scoring position but was left stranded. In the eighth, Miknis nearly gave Kent State the lead with a two-run shot but his drive to right center was knocked down by the wind.

Ben Cruikshank was phenomenal in relief, going four-and-two third shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three. All Big-East righty Austin Pederson was as advertised for UConn, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out 10 in his eight innings of work.

The two teams will meet for the middle game of the three-game set on Saturday. First pitch from Schoonover is set for 1 p.m.