Lauer pitches shut out against Toledo
It didn’t seem like the weather would allow the Kent State baseball team to play on Friday evening against the 6-23-1 Toledo Rockets but we should all be thankful that it did.
Junior pitcher Eric Lauer tossed an absolute gem Friday evening, throwing a complete game shut out allowing only two hits, while sitting down 10 Rockets in the process.
It only took Lauer two batter over the minimum to lock down his fifth win of the season having to throw only 106 pitches to get through the 29 Toledo batters.
“I was just trying to be real economical with everything, put the ball over the plate and let them hit it” said a giddy Lauer after the game. “Luckily they were hitting it right at guys and guys were making great plays.”
And the defense was to thank as well, as numerous Flashes made great defensive plays in the field to keep the Rockets off the bases.
“Defensively we gave them nothing, it was good defensive game for us” said proud Jeff Duncan after the game.
Friday marked Lauer’s first complete game shutout of the year and gave him his third straight game with 10 or more strikeouts.
To go along with a 5-2 record as of Friday’s game against Toledo, Lauer’s ERA now dips under one for the first time in the 2016 campaign and now ranks the lefty’s earned run average at 11th best in the NCAA.
“It’s good to have him on the mound every Friday” says the Flashes’ skipper, “he’s one of the best pitchers in the country.”
Three runs were enough for Kent State and driving in two of those runs was Luke Burch, who has been on an absolute tear as of late.
Burch in the month of April is hitting a clean .500 in six games so far have multiple hits in four of the available.
Friday’s win puts Kent State at 21-9 on the season and 5-2 in Mid-American Conference play.
Due to a weather advisory forecasted for Saturday, the game scheduled against the Rockets will be postponed and a decision on Sunday’s game is yet to be determined.