Kent State Qualifies for MAC Tournament and Sweeps Bowling Green in Thrilling Weekend

Saturday, April 28

Bowling Green, Ohio

1:00 P.M.

Kent State University

25-19, 11-8

Bowling Green

25-22, 7-11

Kent State

Bowling Green

Photo by: David Dermer

Kent State Qualifies for MAC Tournament and Sweeps Bowling Green in Thrilling Weekend

4/28/2018 7:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Kent State (26-19, 12-8 MAC) swept Bowling Green (25-23, 7-12 MAC) on Saturday afternoon and won its sixth straight game, while locking up a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament for a league record 15th consecutive time. The Golden Flashes won two one-run games against the Falcons, 4-3, and, 2-1, and have won 19 in a row vs. BGSU. With the second victory Kent State's senior class became the winningest class in program history with 137 victories.

USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist Holly Speers reached base every time she stepped to the dish this weekend, and cranked her 16th dinger of the season in game two. She also set the program's single season record for walks (54) surpassing Maddy Grimm's mark of 51 which she set last season.

Pitchers Madi Huck and Brenna Brownfield both fired complete game victories and kept the Bowling Green bats off balance all afternoon.

"We had great outings from Brenna and Madi and pitching and defense was the story this weekend," said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "Holly Speers gave us another stellar offensive performance."

Game 1: Kent State 4, Bowling Green 3

The Golden Flashes pounded out three runs in the first inning. Emily Dobbin and Holly Speers both walked with one out and Bailey Brownfield double to center from drive both runners in. Maria Cegledy launched a sacrifice fly to center to score Bailey Brownfield.

The Falcons chipped away scored a single tally in the second and two in the third to tie the game. Pitching had the upper hand the next three frames as neither team could muster a run. Huck got out of a jam in the Bowling Green fifth with two in scoring position with one out and recorded a fly out and a strikeout.

Kent State score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on a two-out rally. Speers was intentionally walked and Bailey Brownfield reached on an error. Brenna Brownfield shot a soft serve single to left and Speers charged home to beat the throw in from left to take a 4-3 lead.

Huck made quick work of the Falcons in the bottom half of the inning to seal the game. Huck (16-7) tossed all seven from and scattered eight hits while allowing three earned runs. She walked two and struck out seven. Brooke Parker (10-7) took the loss for Bowling Green and walked five with four strikeouts.

Game 2: Kent State 2, Bowling Green 1

One swing was all that Kent State needed as in the first inning Speers unloaded a pitch over the right field fence for her second homer of the weekend and 16th of the season.

Bowling Green scored its lone run in the fourth inning on an infield single that was batted down by a diving Speers at short which saved a run by keeping the ball in the infield. The Falcons loaded the bags with one out via a walk, but Brenna Brownfield was locked in and got out of the jam.

The Falcons tried to tie the game in the seventh but were denied. The Falcons rattled off back-to-back base hits and then the lead runner took third base on the second hit, just barely evading a tag from Bailey Brownfield. The next batter lined a shot right into Bailey Brownfield's glove to end the contest.

Brenna Brownfield (8-7) pitched the best game of her career, throwing her first ever seven inning complete game. She effectively pitched to contact, and despite not recording a strikeout allowed just one earned run.

Up Next

The Golden Flashes head to the Steel City with a midweek non-conference battle under the lights against Pitt on Tuesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. The game can be heard on the Golden Flashes iHeart Radio Channel.