LITTLE ROCK — Starn, a seventh-round draft choice by Atlanta, is the school record holder for victories, innings pitched and strikeouts. ... Rider, a 20th-round selection by Pittsburgh, holds the school record for hits in a single season and career.
Kent State Coach Scott Stricklin doesn’t like to use the term “rebuilding.”
No one else is using it, either, to describe the Flashes’ 2012 baseball season.
Kent State surprised most of college baseball by knocking off Oregon to advance to its first College World Series, where it will play Arkansas at 4 p.m. Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.
Last year was supposed to be Kent State’s year, but Texas ended that dream when the Longhorns defeated the Flashes in two consecutive games at the regionals. Kent State had a talented team that saw one player picked in the compensatory round of the major league draft and three more selected in the first 10 rounds.
No mid-major could withstand such a talent departure and not take a step back, right?
The Flashes started this season slowly, but they hit their stride when Mid-American Conference play began and may be the hottest team in college baseball going into the CWS.
Kent State (46-18) set a school record for victories and won its fourth consecutive MAC title. The Flashes have won 22 of their past 23 games, including 5 of 6 NCAA postseason games, all on the road.
“As a staff, we thought [last season] was the most talented team we ever had,” said Stricklin, 313-163 in eight seasons at his alma mater. “If we were ever going to go to Omaha, we thought that was the year to do it.
“We felt we had a good team this year, and we could certainly contend for another championship in conference. We don’t like to say rebuilding, but we thought it would be a tweener year. That’s what makes this so fun.”
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said Kent State has the best baseball program in Ohio and would be a top team in the competitive SEC. The Flashes beat Kentucky, one of the SEC’s top teams this season, in the regionals and then beat Oregon in the super regional.
“They’re good,” Van Horn said. “Look at their stats. They field well. They pitch well. They have three really good starters. Just look at their numbers.”
The Flashes are led by senior left-hander David Starn (11-3, 2.21 ERA) who will start against Arkansas after striking out 123 batters and allowing 89 hits in 114 innings this season. Starn was a seventh-round pick by the Atlanta Braves earlier this month.
The Flashes’ other two starters, right-handers Ryan Bores (9-3, 3.35) and TylerSkulina (11-2, 3.63), give Kent State quality depth.
“Starn can really pitch,” Van Horn said. “Whenever you see seniors who are lefthanded, they can usually pitch. Any time you start a senior in Game One, you have a lot of confidence.”
The Flashes have a team fielding percentage of .974, and Kent State can also hit. Senior shortstop Jimmy Rider is hitting .364 with 66 runs scored and 56 RBI, and the Flashes have outscored opponents 438-275 this year.
“We’ve been able to get the clutch hits,” Stricklin said. “We’re not the most dynamic offensive team, but we’ve been good enough. We’re not built to win the 12-11 games.
“We do what we need to do to win.”
The Flashes are brimming with the confidence that comes with a 21-game winning streak - Kent State’s only loss after April 25 was to Oregon on Sunday - but they also know how talented Arkansas is. Stricklin said his players are still in a bit of daze about making it to Omaha.
“We’re all still shaking our heads, chuckling to ourselves,” Stricklin said. “It has been an amazing ride.”CWS at a glance Double elimination All times Central FRIDAY’S GAMES Stony Brook vs. UCLA, 4 p.m.
Arizona vs. Florida State, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Kent State vs. Arkansas, 4 p.m.
South Carolina vs. Florida, 8 p.m.
Sports, Pages 19 on 06/14/2012