Seton Hall
Recap: Seton Hall notches 1-2 record on their trip to Kent State
Date: March 14, 2021By: Jose Balderrama
Seton Hall Athletics
The Seton Hall Pirates are now 3-7 on the season after this weekend’s series versus the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Pirates were able to win the last game of the series on Sunday, but that was after they dropped the first two games away from home.
On Friday, the Pirates fell by a score of 10-7 in the series opener. They were able to get an early 4-0 lead but weren’t able to hang on as they ultimately gave up the lead in the sixth inning, when Mack Timbrook hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 6-6. For the Pirates, DH Thomas Holdorf hit a three-run home run in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. Pitcher Tyler Burnham struggled as he gave up five earned runs in five innings pitched.
On Saturday, Kent State was able to pick up another win with the final score of 12-4. They took an early lead and never looked back, as they scored eight runs before the Pirates could even get on the board. Pitcher Nick Payero recorded his first loss of the season as he struggled tremendously, giving up 10 hits and six runs in just four innings pitched. PH Mike Esposito hit his first home run of the season, but it was too late as his three-run bomb only made it a 12-4 game in the top of the ninth inning.
E8 | Back-to-back strikeouts for Festa ends the eighth!
— Seton Hall Baseball (@SHUBaseball) March 14, 2021
We head to the ninth. Pirates lead 7-4. #HALLin pic.twitter.com/fGmuTaQADM
On Sunday, the Pirates were finally able to pick up a win as they closed out the series with a 7-4 win. They suffered a momentary scare during the game as they had initially taken a 4- 0 lead but then lost it when the Golden Flashes tied the game up at four during the sixth inning. Catcher Collin Sheehan was the star of the game hitting his first home run of the season in the top of the seventh. The home run brought in three runs and gave the Pirates the lead for good. Pitchers Ryan McLinskey and Chris Shine made their first appearance of the season, but righty David Festa took the show away, pitching a little over three innings and retiring every batter that he faced.
After going 2-1 during this weekend’s series, Kent State has moved to 6-5 on the season with a series against Northern Illinois coming up this week. The Pirates will be hoping their win on Sunday helps turn their season around after an underwhelming first 10 games. They have nine games left before conference play including a three-game series at George Washington this week. If the Pirates hope to accomplish something this season, they will have to go over .500 in their remaining non-conference games.
Jose Balderrama can be reached at jose.balderrana@student.shu.edu.
