This past weekend in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kent State’s baseball team pitching staff taught the Eastern Michigan University’s batters what pitching should look like.

In Friday’s match-up it was junior Eric Lauer who kept the Eagles scoreless into six while working in seven strike outs and one walk. Two hits and an unearned run were the only things keeping this from being special in this one where Lauer had everything working.

The run-support wasn’t anything to look past either in this 13-3 victory. Six of the runs either came from the feet or the bat of junior first-baseman Connor Simonetti, who raked together a three for five day by driving in five and going yard as well.

At Simonetti’s side were redshirt-junior Luke Burch and sophomore Dylan Rosa, who both continued to stay hot by combining to go five-for-nine, with four runs scored and two runs batted in.

Saturday’s star pitcher was from junior Andy Ravel, who has now put together back-to-back starts.

Ravel lasted to the seventh inning in the second day’s 4-2 winner of the Eagles. In the process of pitching six scoreless innings—with both runs coming in the second— Ravel sat down eight batters on strikes while allowing while allowing eight hits. The majority of the damage came in the second inning.

But, despite the outburst of bats the day before, the Flashes only managed two runs going into the eight inning. This left Ravel open to a no-decision. The tie was broken from a clutch hit from redshirt-senior Alex Miklos, who came off of the bench only to smack a two RBI single into right to break the time and eventually win the game.

On Sunday, the Flashes continued to victory, marking their fourth weekend sweep of the season and first since March.

Sunday’s victory came from the arm of sophomore Eli Kraus, who managed eight strike outs over six and two-thirds innings.

Kraus’ two-run ball game marked the fifth consecutive start that the sophomore lefty allowed two or less runs. 

It was Simonetti who put together a three-for-five day, tacking on two more home runs to his now nine-home runs on the season. He contributed to the  Flashes putting together a 7-3 victory and completing the series sweep of the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

The weekend sweep now puts the Flashes’ record at 26-10 on the year and makes it five-straight victories.

Kent State will come home for one game against Penn State University before they travel to Athens for a three-game set with the 16-19 Ohio University Bobcats, who sit four conference games back of the Flashes.

Zach Harley is a sports reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].