The Mid-American Conference top seed Kent State Golden Flashes entered today's opener against the 8th-seeded Eastern Michigan Eagles ranked 23rd nationally and ready to start their march to another MAC Championship and NCAA tourney berth. MAC Pitcher of the Year Eric Lauer took the hill for the Golden Flashes to ensure that was the outcome, and they needed every ounce of his pitching prowess to outlast the Eagles 1-0 in both teams' MAC tourney opener.
It took a complete game shutout from Lauer to advance Kent State, but riding a four-hit performance with nine strikeouts, the Golden Flashes ace was dominant, impressive, and looked every bit the part of the MAC Pitcher of the Year that was awarded to him yesterday.