Kent State University
Northern Illinois University
Forecasted Weather Forces Schedule Changes for Softball Series at NIU
4/1/2016 12:32:00 PM | Softball
The teams with the best two records in the Mid-American Conference will play a three-game series in DeKalb, Ill. this weekend as Kent State (20-9, 3-0 MAC) visits Northern Illinois (22-8, 3-0 MAC). Due to weather forecasts, the teams will try to play a doubleheader on Friday with first pitch being pushed up to 2 p.m. ET.
Series Schedule
Friday, April 1
2:00 p.m. Game 1 – Live Stats Video
4:00 p.m. Game 2 – Live Stats Audio Video
Saturday, April 2
2:00 p.m. Game 3 – Live Stats Audio Video
Golden Flashes Radio Coverage
Fans can listen to part of this weekend's action on Golden Flashes Radio. Game 2 on Friday will be joined in-progress following the conclusion of the Kent State Baseball game, and Saturday's game will be broadcast in its entirety. Jacob Pavilack will be on the call.
Last Time Out
Kent State lost two close games at Robert Morris on Tuesday, giving the Colonials four wins over RPI Top 50 squads over the past three weeks. The Golden Flashes were held to just four hits in a 3-2 Game 1 loss and then collected a season-high 14 hits, including 12 singles, in a 14-11 Game 2 setback that saw RMU win on a walk-off three-run homer.
Freshman Hunter Brancifort had her best game in a Kent State uniform to lead the offense in Game 2. Brancifort went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk. She flew out in a pinch-hit appearance in Game 1 to go 3-for-4 on the day. Junior Maddy Grimm collected a team-best four hits, including a double and a home run. Grimm was one of six Flashes to score two runs and drove in two runs. Senior Shelbi Tilton had three hits and two RBIs, while freshman Bailey Brownfield had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs.
The pitching staff had an uncharacteristic rough outing, allowing Robert Morris to have a .455 team batting average and finishing with an 8.84 ERA. Junior Janel Hayes was the losing pitcher in both games. Hayes threw 9.2 innings and had five strikeouts to only one walk. She allowed eight earned runs and 14 hits. Sophomore Emily Dobbin threw three innings and allowed seven runs.
Series History vs. Northern Illinois
• Kent State is 21-27 all-time vs. Northern Illinois.
• The Golden Flashes swept the Huskies to close out the 2015 regular season, 11-5 and 3-1, at the Diamond at Dix.
• The teams split a doubleheader the last time they met in DeKalb on April 25, 2014. NIU took Game 1, 2-0, and KSU took Game 2, 7-5, in 12 innings.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State heads down to Athens for a conference doubleheader at Ohio on Tuesday.
