Kent State men’s baseball gave up just five hits to Pittsburgh Wednesday, but three of those hits resulted in home runs. 

The Flashes’ 13-game winning streak ended as the Panthers won 8-3. 

KSU fell to 15-5 on the season and sits atop the Mid-American Conference at 3-0. 

Pittsburgh came into the game losing four of its previous five games and is now 9-9 overall.  

Junior pitcher Aidan Longwell got the start for Kent State, recording three scoreless innings with the only Panther reaching base on a walk. 

Longwell improved his scoreless streak to 11 consecutive innings – he is also first in the NCAA with 40 RBIs. 

KSU struck first in the game on a two-out RBI-double by senior catcher Justin Miknis; the score was 1-0 in the top of the second. 

Pittsburgh hit its first of three home runs in the bottom of the fourth, giving them the lead 2-1. 

Over the next three innings, the Flashes recorded two hits as UP left fielder connected on a three-run homer to center field, scoring three. The score was now 5-1. 

In the top of the eighth, Longwell reached first on a single and came around to score after junior infielder Michael McNamara hit his third home run of the season, making the score 5-3. 

However, after two consecutive walks, the Panthers hit a three-run homer extending their lead to 8-3. 

In the game’s final inning, all three KSU batters were struck out to end the game. 

The Flashes used seven pitchers in the game – Longwell was the only one to work multiple innings. 

KSU out-hit Pittsburgh 10-5 – all five hits went for extra bases. 

The Flashes had chances to score as they left seven players on base – UP left two. 

Kent State will be back in action Friday as they travel to Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 

The Flashes will open the 3-game series against Central Michigan (11-8, 2-1 MAC) with a doubleheader at noon and 4 p.m. 

The series will wrap up Sunday at 1 p.m.

Jacob Shondel is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].