Kent State right handed pitcher Calvin Bickerstaff has taken on the role of starter this year after coming out of the bullpen his previous two seasons. Head Coach Jeff Duncan and his players have benefitted from the new role this year for Bickerstaff.
The 6-5, 209 pound redshirt junior from Steubenville High School is 2-2 on the season with a 4.83 ERA and has an outstanding strikeout to walk ratio of 33 to 2. Bickerstaff was a reliable reliever in high leverage situations for the Flashes in 2023, going 1-2 on the season with a 4.50 ERA, but stepped up in MAC play with a 1.10 ERA and held opponents to a .200 average in 10 appearances.
Duncan was a guest on Flash Talk this week to discuss the new role for Bickerstaff this year.
“He’s a big time competitor and he’s going to throw two pitches for a strike at all times so I’m really happy with the way he performed and how he’s been performing all year long.”
The Flashes have juggled the weekend rotation, switching Bickerstaff from the Sunday starter to Friday.
“As the season’s gone on, you can see his confidence get better and better in every start,” Duncan continued. “He’s getting used to the routine and I’m really happy for him. He’s a leader on our team, he’s always competitive. He’s going to give his best bullet every time he goes out and I’m happy for him and it’s been a really good start to his season and I can see it continuing to get better as it goes.”
Kent State lost two out of three last weekend to a veteran Western Michigan team, but was able to gut out a win on Saturday to come away from Kalamazoo with a 5-4 MAC record. Uncharacteristic defense let the Flashes down at times over the weekend playing on natural grass, something that was an adjustment for the Flashes who typically play on turf.
Eastern Michigan comes to town with a 6-3 record, fresh off a series win against their in-state rivals from Central Michigan.
“It will be a really good weekend for us because, let’s go. We’re approaching the second half of the season and we’ve been through a lot as a team early from an adversity standpoint. I don’t feel like we’ve hit stride but I also think we’re getting better and better. I’m really looking forward to this second half of the season and Eastern Michigan is a really good challenge coming in at 6-3.”
Duncan knows the atmosphere at Schoonover Stadium is a tough one for opponents to play in as his ballclub is 31-4 at home in its last 35 home games. “Schoonover’s been really good to our program the last two years and we’re 7-1 at home right now and please come out because our guys feed off that energy at home and the fans, and just the atmosphere of Schoonover Stadium as a whole , the setting…all of it.”
This weekend is kids weekend with giveaways and games planned throughout the weekend. Friday’s game was moved up for the weather to 1:00pm.