MUNCIE- Kent State secured its first 40-win regular season since 2016 with a 11-5 victory over Ball State, sweeping the final regular season series of the season.

The Flashes scored 54 runs over the three-game series, the most in a three-game set since at least 2012. They wasted little time on Saturday as the first four Flashes reached safely. Justin Miknis and Michael McNamara had run-scoring singles and Kyle Jackson followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-0 ball game.

A trio of solo shots for Ball State over the first two innings tied the game, but it didn't stay tied for long. McNamara parked an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall for a three-run homer, retaking a three-run lead for Kent State at 6-3. The junior shortstop would add a sac fly later in the game to round out a five-rbi afternoon.

Kent State would grow the lead to as big as 11-3 with Jake Casey and Longwell each picking up run-scoring singles. For Longwell, it was run batted in number 70 for the junior and he became the third Golden Flashes to reach that mark in a season, joining Anthony Gallas (2010) and John VanBenschoten (2001).

Four Golden Flash pitchers made the lead stand up, striking out 10 on the afternoon. Senior Richie Dell got the win, going the middle 2.2 innings in relief of starter Eric Chalus. Mitch Scott put the exclamation point on win number 40 by striking out the heart of the Cardinal lineup in the ninth in a non-save situation.

Kent State closes the regular season at 40-13 and 24-6 in the MAC, tying the program record for conference wins in a year, joining the 2012 and 1992 teams. The Flashes turn their attention now to the Mid-American Conference tournament back home at Schoonover Stadium. Kent State will take on the fourth-seeded Western Michigan Broncos in the tournament opener on Wednesday, first pitch is set for noon.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Robby Morgan IV hit his third homer in two games and Central Michigan took advantage of 14 walks on Saturday in topping Western Michigan, 12-1, at the Broncos' Bobb Stadium.
 
It was the series and regular season finale for the Chippewas, who finished 19-11 and in second place in the Mid-American Conference. They take a 33-21 record into the MAC Tournament at regular season champion Kent State.
 
The Chippewas are the No. 2 seed and will open against third-seeded Ball State on Wednesday, May 24 (6 p.m.). Kent State and Western Michigan play in the tournament opener at noon on Wednesday.
 
CMU is the defending tournament champion. The double-elimination continues through Saturday, May 28.
 
The Chippewas broke a five-game losing streak in winning Saturday's finale, which was called after seven innings on the run rule.
 
"I'd like to think we could have gone into the tournament confident either way because we've had a lot of success over the year, but certainly when you go a handful of games without playing a good one, you do lose a little bit of that edge in confidence," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "It's the preferred way to go in. … This'll help to get guys feeling just a little bit better."
 
Morgan, who homered twice in Friday's loss, finished with two hits and drove in three runs in Saturday's series finale. He leads the Chippewas with 12 homers, and he had gone 12 games without hitting a round-tripper before Friday.
 
"Robby's biggest critic is himself," Bischel said. "He beats himself up when he doesn't have success and it's not for a lack of trying. We've just been able to get him relaxed and feeling a little bit more confident and that was great to see.
 
"Every one of those home runs was well hit and he would have had another one if not for the wind blowing in. Certainly that's a big spark for the offense when he squares balls up like that."
 
The 14 walks marked a season high for the Chippewas, who have drawn 348 bases on balls on the season, ranking in the top five nationally.
 
Leadoff man Justin Simpson and No. 2 hitter Jacob Donahue along with Danny Wuestenfeld collected three walks apiece and each scored two runs. 
 
The Chippewas scored two runs in the first inning and Morgan's homer, a two-run shot to left center, upped the lead to 8-0 in the fourth.
 
Keegan Batka (7-3) struck out five, walked four, and surrendered just three hits over five innings for the win. Ryan Palmblad and Christian Mitchelle pitched in relief.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team closed its season on a high note, defeating Northern Illinois University, 7-1, today inside Oestrike Stadium to finish the season with a three-game sweep of the Huskies and four consecutive wins overall.

With the win, Eastern (27-26, 12-18 MAC) notched its first winning season since the 2011 campaign. The season included four series sweeps, and six series wins overall. The day was also one of celebration for the 10 EMU baseball seniors that played their last game inside Oestrike Stadium today. 

Sophomore Josh Kross (Brunswick, Ohio-Brunswick-Toledo) collected four RBIs to help power the Eagles past Huskies. On the mound Freshman Sam Reed (Carmel, Ind.-Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) (3-3) got the win for Eastern Michigan. The left-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing three walks and striking out seven. Junior Jagger Jefferies (Barnesville, Ohio-Barnesville-Bryant & Stratton C.C.) also pitched well, going 1.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out three.

Kross went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run in addition to his four RBIs for the Eagles. Senior Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.) put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Junior Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind.-Shelbyville) also contributed for Eastern Michigan, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and an RBI.

AKRON, Ohio – The Ohio baseball team (19-30, 15-15 MAC) wrapped up their 2023 season with a victory over the Akron Zips (21-34, 12-18 MAC) today at Skeeles Field, 3-1.  

Individually, junior Alec Patino (Sioux City, Iowa) went 2-for-4 at the plate, leading both teams in hits. Fifth year Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.) recorded the Bobcats' sole RBI.  

Graduate student Colin Sells (Lancaster, Ohio) got the start on the mound, pitching through five innings, allowing one run on two hits while retiring three batters. Sophomore Hudson Boncal (Corona, Calif.) was credited with the save, throwing a perfect four innings and retiring seven batters.  

The Bobcats got on the board early with a groundout from Minzey to score senior Alex Finney (Oxford Mich.). After a scoreless second, the Zips hit a solo home run to tie the game, 1-1. Ohio's offense capitalized off a throwing error in the fourth, allowing fifth year Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa) and junior Gideon Antle (Licking, Mo.) to score.  

Strong pitching performances from both teams shut down scoring for the rest of the game, solidifying the Bobcats' 3-1 victory. 

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team closed out the 2023 campaign with a doubleheader at Fifth Third Field on Saturday (May 20), splitting the day with the Toledo Rockets in the Battle of I-75. Winning the second game of the doubleheader, the Orange and Brown took the weekend series and split the season series with Toledo. 

On the day, the two teams combined to score 47 runs across 18 innings of baseball. Toledo took the first game 19-7, including a seven-run bottom of the eighth, but the Falcons came roaring back in game two. Both teams tallied a run in the first inning of the second game, but Bowling Green added five in the second and seven in the third for a 13-4 lead through three innings. The momentum carried through the game as BGSU captured a 16-5 win in the series and season finale.