KENT, Ohio (April 15, 2000) -- The Kent State University baseball team (23-8, 7-1 Mid-American Conference) split a doubleheader with Ohio University (17-14-1, 7-3 MAC) April 15 at Gene Michael Field, suffering its first league loss of the season.

The Golden Flashes had their nine-game winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss to the Bobcats in game one. Sophomore John VanBenschoten (Milford, Ohio/Milford) got Kent on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to right-center field. In the sixth, senior Alex Marconi (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) led off the inning with a single. VanBenschoten then walked and sophomore Dave Mattle (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) grounded out to advance the runners. Freshman Chris Welsch (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) grounded out to second base to score Marconi and an error by the Ohio first baseman the next play allowed VanBenschoten to cross the plate.

Marconi, VanBenschoten, senior Jess Bechard (Brantford, Ontario/Massillon) and freshman Pat O'Brien (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) accounted for Kent's four hits. Redshirt sophomore Dustin Sampson (Wheelersburg, Ohio/Wheelersburg) suffered the loss, allowing 10 hits and all six Bobcat runs in 6.0 innings (4-2). Redshirt freshman Chris White (Frankfort,Ohio/Adena) threw a hitless seventh inning in relief.

Kent jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two and went on to win 3-2. O'Brien led off the first inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bechard then drove him home with a single down the right-field line to give Kent a 1-0 lead.

Redshirt sophomore Casey Ellis (Wheelersburg, Ohio/Wheelersburg) made the score 2-0 with a solo home run to right-center field in the second. However, the Bobcats tied the score with a pair of runs in the third, including a solo shot by Cory Keylor.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth. VanBenschoten led off with a double, which was followed by a Mattle single and a Chris Detweiler (Solon, Ohio/Solon) bunt that loaded the bases. Two batters later Ellis was hit by a pitch to score Mattle and give Kent the lead.

Senior Doug Straight (Buckhannon, W.Va./Upshur) allowed three hits and two runs in six innings to earn the victory (6-0). Classmate Dan Adams (Burlington, Ohio/Walla Walla C.C.) picked up his ninth save of the season.