Kent State junior first baseman Conner Simonetti blasted a solo home run and junior pitcher Eric Lauer made it stand up in a 1-0 victory over Eastern Michigan in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament on Wednesday at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon.
Simonetti homered off Eastern Michigan starter Brent Mattson leading off the second inning and Lauer pitched a four-hit shutout for the Flashes (42-12).
Lauer allowed just four singles, two of which did not leave the infield, walked three, hit a batter and struck out nine.
He did not allow an Eastern Michigan (20-35) runner past second base and took a two-hitter into the ninth.