Massillon and Bowling Green Alum Lead Kent to a Dramatic Come from Behind Victory in MAC Tournament

Photo by Al Kornspan

Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, number one seeded Kent State was on the verge of losing their first game of the MAC Baseball Tournament on Wednesday night against Western Michigan.

However, with the help of Massillon alum, Aidan Longwell, and Bowling Green alum, Kyle Jackson, the Golden Flashes stayed resilient and defeated the Broncos, 6-4.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, Longwell drove in the first two runs of the game for Kent with a double.

Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Longwell singled to score Connor Ashby from second base. 

“It was a big situation,” said Longwell. “I was just grateful to be in that spot to give my team a chance to win. I got some pitches in the strike zone that I could handle and put good swings on them.”

With the score tied at three in the bottom of the eighth, Bowling Green alum, Kyle Jackson, came to bat with 2 runners on base.

“Aidan Longwell got us tied up,” said Jackson. “I knew there wasn’t a lot of pressure. I knew I could just do my job and be a good teammate. He threw me a slider first pitch.  I swung and missed. Then he went fast ball down .Took it for a ball, 1-1 count. He threw me another slider and I was ready for it (and hit a home run over the right field fence).”

With Jackson’s three run home run, the Golden Flashes went on  to defeat the Broncos, 6-4, and moved to 41-15 on the season.