The Kent State Tuscarawas baseball team finally got the 2019 season underway and did it in fine fashion on Thursday afternoon, as they broke out the brooms to sweep a twin bill at Penn State Beaver. Golden Eagles pitchers, Cade Cummings and Austin Black went the distance in their respective games as the Navy and Gold belted the ball all over the place winning 7-4 and 16-4.
In the opener, freshman, Blaze Clark and junior, Cade Cummings, did most of the damage as they combined for seven hits, five RBIs and two runs.
The Navy and Gold jumped on the Lions early with three runs in the top of the first inning on three hits, as Kyle Stotzer and Cade Cummings singled after Easton Guspyt drew a free pass. Guspyt scored on a fielder's choice and Clark cleared the bases with a single that scored two more runs. They added an unearned run in the top of the second as Stotzer scored while Cummings was caught in a run down for a quick 4-0 lead.
Cummings struck out four PSU Beaver batters over the first three innings, before the hosts managed to get three hits in the bottom of the fourth as they plated three runs to cut the Golden Eagles lead to 4-3.
The Lions threatened again in the bottom of the sixth after drawing a walk and bunting the runner safely to second before a single put runners on the corners with just one out. A fielding error led to a game tying run, before Luke Kail relayed a throw from Clark in left field to cut down a potential go-ahead runner at the plate to end the rally. Cummings struck out the final batter to close the inning.
Trevor Donaldson struck out to lead off the seventh inning but reached first base on a throwing error by the Lions catcher. The next two Golden Eagles were retired by a fly out and ground out as Donaldson made his way to third. Cummings then doubled Donaldson home for a 5-4 lead and Kail singled to put runners on the corners. Clark promptly stepped into the batter's box and ripped a double to score two more runs before a strike out ended the inning with the Golden Eagles on top 7-4.
PSU Beaver was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh and the victory was sealed.
Cummings went the distance for KSU Tusc yielding seven hits and three earned runs, while striking out four and walking two batters.
Clark knocked in four runs going 3/4 at the plate with a double and Cummings went 3/4 and scored two runs to help his own cause as the Golden Eagles recorded nine hits in the win.