Wollersheim leads the way in Kokomo

Redemption was the name of the game for freshman Connor Wollersheim as he led the Kent State baseball team to a victory Tuesday afternoon against the University of Evansville.

Before Tuesday Wollersheim had only one decision on the year in his two starts – a loss to the University of Pittsburgh.

The freshman lefty finally put one in the win column Tuesday hurling six phenomenal innings allowing only one run, striking out and walking three.

The offense made it easier for Wollersheim to deal through the first couple innings as the Flashes’ offense put up five runs through the first frames.

Hits were spread out for Kent State as the line-up that put together 10 base-hits only had only two multi-hit members: freshman Conner Simonetti and sophomore Mason Mamarella.

Freshman Dylan Rosa and sophomore Luke Burch contributed a combined four out of the Flashes six runs, with Rosa’s first inning two-run shot to center and Burch’s two-run triple in the second.

Rosa’s dinger to center marked his team-high fourth home-run of the year putting him one over first-baseman junior Zarley Zalewski who has three.

Burch’s two-run triple keep’s the outfielder’s quietly great season still intact adding to his .293 batting average which is good for the second highest on the team. Accompanying that average are his 15 runs batted in to go along with his remarkably high .384 on-base percentage.

The six to three win over Evansville marks the Flashes fourth win in five games and gives them them a 14 and two record over their last 16 tries.

Kent State holds a 13-6 record its first 19 games through the season thanks to the help of both their bats and arms.

Kent State’s team average of .269 doesn’t tell the whole story of the Flashes’ success, as their 99 runs on the season have mostly come in the beginning innings. This allows the arms of the team to pitch with a lead.

Pitching with a lead helps, but having a team ERA of 3.29 helps even more when you look at the their opponents’ ERA which sits at 4.53.

The Flashes will try to do it again this weekend as they start Mid-American Conference play on Friday when they visit Kalamazoo for a three game set against Central Michigan (4-16)

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