A long rain delay didn't deter an impressive offensive onslaught Sunday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field. Nor did it deter the players from having some fun.

The Kent State baseball team flexed its muscles before, during and after the two-hour, five-minute delay and the result was an emphatic 19-5 Mid-American Conference victory over the University of Akron.

The rain delay triggered a spectacle of dancing, prancing, frolicking and laughing.

Sophomore Cory Hindel was the primary entertainer. He was spotted leading a group of KSU players in the formation of a band marching to an Irish bagpipe song between the third-base dugout and home plate.

''This day was just chaotic,'' Hindel said. ''It was nice to get a win and have fun. I like to do improv stuff and have fun.''

Hindel also was recognized as the ''dance-off'' champion after competing against Zips senior Doug McNulty. The duo danced to the Weather Girls' It's Raining Men. Hindel wore his chest protector with no undershirt and McNulty danced bare-chested.

Before that, KSU junior Ryan Mitchell hopped around near the dugout to laughter with his pants over his head and torso and his jersey over his lower body and legs.

Several other comical moments took place during the delay: KSU junior Steve Ross retrieved a baseball bag in shallow center field that was
left by UA players. Ross opened the bag and out popped Zips sophomore Nick Solitario, who was wearing only compression shorts.

UA freshman Danny Fawcett danced to T.I. and Jay-Z's Bring 'em Out. Moments later, Zips freshman Scott Foster lip-synced AC/DC's Thunderstruck as junior Ryan Frazee and freshman James Podgorney played air guitar with a bat in hand.

Back to the game

The Golden Flashes (31-18, 14-7) tallied seven runs in the second inning and the Zips (24-21, 8-10) couldn't recover.

KSU hit five home runs and had 19 hits for the game. Flashes sophomore Kyle Smith (8-1) pitched five innings and earned the win after allowing two earned runs.

''I think the key was Kyle Smith,'' KSU coach Scott Stricklin said. ''He gave us 31/3 solid innings after the delay.''

KSU junior Chris Tremblay, senior Doug Sanders and sophomore Jared Bartholomew each had three hits and three RBI.

Flashes junior Greg Rohan also collected three hits, including a solo home run in the second inning. KSU sophomore Conor Egan hit a solo homer in the second and Sanders capped the inning with a two-run homer. Bartholomew homered in the ninth.

''We continued to swing the bats throughout the game,'' Stricklin said. ''Every position player played today and made a contribution. We hit a lot of balls on the barrel of the bat.''

KSU sophomore Anthony Gallas hit a two-run homer and had three RBI. Hindel and freshman Brett Weibley each had two RBI.

''It's a great feeling coming into the game and knowing that you will get run support,'' said Smith, who located his fastball and slider effectively.

Flashes freshman Ben Klafczynski collected an RBI double in a four-run seventh.

''I have adjusted well and learned a lot,'' Klafczynski said of his freshman season. ''The pitching is definitely better, but I am making adjustments. I had expectations to be a contributor and we're in first place, but we still have a lot of work to do.''

UA junior Phil Bednar had a double, single and three RBI.