KENT, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University baseball team opened Mid-American Conference play on Friday with a 12-1 loss to the Kent State Golden Flashes at Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.
 
Kent State (9-4, 1-0 MAC) got on the board in the bottom of the first. Kyle Jackson led off by drawing a walk from NIU starting pitcher Jacob Wilde (Waukesha, Wis./Madison College). After a single by Collin Mathews, Aidan Longwell doubled down the right field line to clear the bases and give the Golden Flashes a 2-0 lead. Wilde then retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
 
NIU (3-10, 0-1 MAC) had a chance to tie the game in the top of the second. Kaden Kosobucki (West De Pere, Wis./West De Pere) reached on an error with one out in the inning. Spencer Bartel (Sun Prairie, Wis./Madison College) was hit by a pitch after a groundout to give the Huskies runners at first and second with two out. Kent State starting pitcher Ben Cruikshank held NIU scoreless by getting a strikeout to end the frame.
 
The Golden Flashes broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the second, punctuated by a two-run double by Michael McNamara that made the score 7-0. Mason Ruh (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran HS) entered the game from the bullpen for NIU in the bottom of the third and retired the side in order. Kent State added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh to go up 10-0.
 
Cruikshank was dominant on the mound, holding NIU without a hit until the top of the eighth. Eric Erato (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) led off the inning reaching on an error. Andre Demetral (Rochester, Mich./Florence Darling Tech) then reached on an infield single for the Huskies' first hit. The Golden Flashes then went to the bullpen for Jordan Kolenda after Cruikshank allowed just one hit over seven innings with 11 strikeouts while walking four Huskies. Kolenda got a double play and a groundout to keep NIU off the scoreboard.
 
The Huskies scored their run in the top of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Parker Shupe (Johnston, Iowa/Kirkwood CC) was hit by a pitch leading off the inning. After a lineout, Christian Seegers (Schaumburg, Ill./Creighton) hit a single to left center to get Shupe to third. Jack Anderson (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Shupe and make the score 12-1.
 
Ruh struck out five batters in five innings of relief, allowing three runs on nine hits. Demetral was 1-for-3 with a walk.
 
The two teams play the middle game of this weekend's series on Saturday, March 11. First pitch has been moved to 12 p.m. CT from the originally scheduled 2 p.m. first pitch.
 
--NIU--