Kent State Baseball Shut Out In Series Opener At Central Michigan

Sutton, Miklos lead Golden Flashes with two hits apiece in loss to Chippewas.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Kent State baseball team was dealt a 3-0 loss to interdivision foe Central Michigan Friday (April 20) in the Mid-American Conference weekend series opener at Theunissen Stadium.

The Golden Flashes (21-16, 10-3 MAC) were shut out for the first time since a 5-0 loss at Texas on June 6, 2011, in the 2011 NCAA Championship Austin Regional.

Senior right-handed pitcher Zach Cooper set the tone for the victory for the Chippewas (17-22, 7-6 MAC), firing his second complete-game shutout of the 2012 season. He fanned 13 while walking just one and scattering four hits to improve to 4-3 on the mound this season. He did not surrender an extra-base hit.

Kent State senior southpaw ace David Starn (Hudson, Ohio) was tagged with the pitching defeat, falling to 4-3. He fanned six in six innings of work. Redshirt freshman right-handed reliever Josh Pierce (Avon, Ohio) pitched two shutout innings, striking out two.

Sophomore right fielder T.J. Sutton (Uniontown, Ohio) and freshman left fielder Alex Miklos (Grove City, Pa.) led the Flashes at the plate with two hits apiece.

Central Michigan senior left fielder Sam Russell led all hitters with two doubles, a single and two runs scored. Junior shortstop Jordan Dean contributed two base hits.

Kent State looks to even the series Saturday (April 20) at 2 p.m.