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Four-run first dooms YSU vs. Kent State
By Greg Gulas
NILES
A four-run uprising in the first inning set the tone and proved to be the difference as Kent State defeated YSU, 6-3 Tuesday at Eastwood Field.
It was the first of a six-game homestand for the Penguins.
The win by the Golden Flashes gave the two teams a split of their season series with YSU having already pinned an 11-6 setback on their Mid-American Conference foes back on April 4.
“They put some good swings on the ball in the first inning, but we didn’t walk a lot of guys and were around the zone,” YSU coach Dan Bertolini said. “They found some holes, had three early hits but we stayed aggressive with our strike zone.”
The Golden Flashes (20-12) needed just six pitches before plating the game’s first run, sending nine batters to the plate and adding three more runs for the early 4-0 advantage.
Mason Mamarella led off the game with a single, Luke Burch then followed with a single and after Dylan Rosa doubled down the right field line, Kent State led 2-0.
Tom Dalporto then walked and Pete Schuler doubled with two away, scoring both Rosa and Dalporto for a four-run opening frame and enough to chase Penguin starter Javier Alvarez.
The Penguins (9-24) cut into the Kent lead in the third inning, drawing to within 4-1 after Anthony Rohan singled with two away, racing home all the way from first base. Lorenzo Arcuri followed with his fifth double of the season.
Alex Bellardini, who replaced Alvarez in the second inning, worked four scoreless innings before giving way to Gino DiVinceno in the sixth frame.
“Alex has been doing a great job for us all year. We’ve used him a ton and he leads the conference in appearances,” Bertolini said. “We have a lot of confidence in him and he did a nice job for us again today.”
Bellardini faced 14 batters, scattered three hits, struck out one, did not allow a free pass while forcing six ground ball outs.
“It was a tough start for us, but at the same time my job was to keep the score where it was and give our batters a chance to get us back in the game,” Bellardini said. “My goal was to be consistent with my fast ball, stay within the strike zone, make them put it in play and just keep them off the bases.”
The Golden Flashes greeted Bellardini’s replacement, Gino DiVincenzo, in the sixth inning by scoring two runs for a 6-1 margin before he gave way to YSU’s fourth pitcher of the day, Dion Felger, who then proceeded to get Burch on an inning-ending double play.
Big blows in the inning were run-scoring singles by both Nick Kanavas and Mamarella.
Kent starter Joe Vranesic went the first five innings, allowing a run on three hits but gave way to reliever Aaron Todian in the sixth inning.
“I thought we played really good baseball today,” Kent State coach Jeff Duncan said. “Defensively we were outstanding and we got a really good start from Joe, which was his first career start. He threw his three pitches; a fast ball, breaking ball and change-up and all for strikes so it was good to see him do that. It was his first innings ever in college as he just got back from a broken hand. Plus, I thought our bullpen did an excellent job.”
Todian faced four batters in the sixth inning, allowing a two-run single to the Penguins’ Nico Padovan as YSU pulled to within 6-3.
Zach Schultz then relieved Todian and proceeded to get Alex Larivee to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
“Our pitchers did a good job, the defense looked good and we played hard,” Padovan noted.
Neither team scored over the final three frames with Kent State producing the only two hits.
In all, YSU used six pitchers and the Golden Flashes four with Vranesic picking up his first win of the year and Alvarez absorbing his first loss after two straight victories.