The team 's arch-rival was the Akron Zips from the University of Akron in Akron , Ohio . The two teams both played in the Mid-American Conference East division and are separated by approximately . The series began in 1916 with a 12 – 1 Akron win in Kent , but did not become a conference game until 1993 when Akron joined the Mid-American Conference . What was the final game of the series was played May 16 , 2015 , a 3 – 2 Kent State win in 10 innings at Lee R. Jackson Baseball Field in Akron that clinched the season series for Kent State and the all-sports Wagon Wheel Challenge between the two schools . The rivalry came to an unexpected end after the 2015 season when the University of Akron announced the baseball team would be eliminated because of budget concerns . Through the 2015 season , Kent State leads the series 109 – 55 – 1 , and won eight of the final ten meetings . The Zips and Flashes played three times in the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament , including the championship game of the 2014 tournament , a 3 – 0 Kent State win and the only time the rivals met in the tournament final . The win gave Kent State a 2 – 1 edge in tournament games , winning a 1995 semifinal game 16 – 3 , while Akron won a 1996 first round game 4 – 1
2014 tournament
2014 Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament
Kent State Golden Flashes baseball