Under normal circumstances, the Kent State baseball team would have had two more opportunities to record the tying run in a non-conference mid-week game against Big Ten foe The Ohio State University.

But, the Flashes were trailing by one with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning when thunderstorms rolled into the Columbus area.

And after an approximate 30 minute delay, the game was called early because of the weather, resulting in a 9-8 Ohio State (12-16) win over Kent State (17-10) Wednesday night at Bill Davis Stadium.

Kent State redshirt senior Luke Burch — the first batter — began the game with a double to left center on a 3-1 pitch off of OSU starter Austin Woodby. Redshirt junior Mason Mamarella and senior Dom Iero then followed with back-to-back hits to put the Flashes up two.

Three batters later, redshirt junior Reilly Hawkins singled to right, scoring Iero and pushing Kent State’s lead to three.

The Flashes, who scored the game’s first seven runs, added three more in the top of the second and another in the third to give starter Robert Zeigler an early cushion.

Zeigler, a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher, threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, but gave up three runs on a Dominic Canzone double in the bottom of the third and surrendered an RBI walk to Ohio State utility player Noah McGowan before Coach Jeff Duncan brought in reliever Jared Skolnicki.

And on Skolnicki’s second pitch, Ohio State’s first baseman Zach Ratcliff took him yard to left center for a grand slam that knotted the score at eight.

Zeigler, who received a no decision, was tagged with seven earned runs on four hits and seven walks in 3 2/3 innings of work.

The Buckeyes would then score what turned out to be the game’s winning run after Bo Coolen stole home on a pick off play.

Ohio State right-hander Reece Calvert retired the Flashes in order in the final two innings before the rain came.

Offensively, Kent State was led by Iero’s four runs batted on a 2-4 performance from the plate, while Hawkins drove in a pair and Burch and Mamarella each recorded one RBI. Nine of the team’s 13 hits came from the first four batters in the lineup.

The Flashes have their first bye week of the season this weekend before traveling to Bowling Green State University to take on the Falcons in a one game series on April 11.

Nick Buzzelli is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].