KENT, Ohio (April 16, 2000) -- The Kent State University baseball team (25-8, 9-1 Mid-American Conference)swept a doubleheader with Ohio University (17-16-1, 7-5 MAC) April 16 at Gene Michael Field to remain tied for first place in the MAC's East Division.

The Bobcats were two outs away from a perfect game but the GoldenFlashes rallied to win 5-3 in game one. Ohio got on the board with three runs on five singles in the second inning but, after that, Kent freshman Dirk Hayhurst (Canton, Ohio/South) settled in and did not allow a Bobcat past second base.

Ohio's Denny McGee did not allow anything even close to a hit through 6.1 innings but, with one out in the seventh, senior Jess Bechard (Brantford, Ontario/Massillon) sent the ball to the base of the center-field wall for a double. That two-bagger ingnited a rally which tied the game. Senior Alex Marconi (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) drew a walk but was out on a Dave Mattle (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) fielder's choice. John VanBenschoten (Milford, Ohio/Milford) drew another walk to load the bases and set the stage for Ty Carpenter's (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) three-run double to right-center field, evening the score and forcing extra innings.

Kent closer Dan Adams (Burlington, Wash./Walla Walla C.C.) relieved Hayhurst in the eighth and sat down the Bobcats in order.

Freshman Pat O'Brien (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) sent a single to right-center in the bottom of the eighth and, two batters later, Marconi hit a home run down the left-field line to give Kent the come-from-behind victory.

Hayhurst allowed three runs in 7.0 innings, his first against a league opponent this season, and struck out five batters while issuing one walk. In fact, through 21.0 MAC innings, Hayhurst has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 17-1. Adams picked up the victory in relief (1-1).

Kent jumped out to a 3-0 lead and went on to complete the sweep with a 5-2 victory in game two.

The Golden Flashes scored a run in the second inning when Craig Whitaker (Canton, Ohio/Perry) and Chris Detweiler (Solon, Ohio/Solon) put on the double steal and Ohio catcher Scott Brownlee threw the ball away at third, allowing Detweiler to score and give Kent an early 1-0 lead.

Kent added two runs in the third. Marconi led off the inning with an infield single, stole second and went to third when no one covered the bag on Marconi's steal, allowing the ball to sail into center field. Mattle walked and VanBenschoten knocked Marconi in with a blooper to left field. A Carpenter single loaded the bases and, two batters later, Detweiler singled to left to plate Mattle.

Mattle knocked in Bechard, who had doubled to center field, to make the score 4-0 in favor of Kent in the fourth inning. VanBenschoten scored Marconi with a sacrifice fly to right field in the sixth to end the Kent scoring. Ohio scored its two runs in the seventh with a two-run homer by Ryan Kyes.

Redshirt sophomore Jason Biniker (Perrysburg, Ohio/Rossford) threw 6.0 innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs for the victory (3-1). Adams tied the MAC record with his 25th career save, throwing a scoreless seventh to seal the win. His season save total now stands at 10.