KENT, Ohio (Interstat) — Ciaran Caughey struck out nine over seven strong innings Friday, leading Kent State to an 8-1 victory over Bowling Green in a Mid-American Conference opener at Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.

The Golden Flashes (10-3) broke open a tight game with a pair of three-run homers. Kolton Schaller’s blast in the sixth inning erased a 1-0 deficit, and Sawyer Solitaria added another in the seventh. Hunter Klotz drove in two in the eighth.

Vinny Salvione’s solo homer in the fourth provided the only run for the Falcons (2-7). Jacob Turner took the loss despite not allowing a hit over 6 1/3 innings; he walked eight and was charged with four runs. Kent State finished with 11 hits.