Flashes Earn Doubleheader Split in Madeira Beach

Saturday, February 24

Madeira Beach, Fla.

4:00 P.M.

Kent State University

6-2

Middle Tennessee

9-5

Kent State

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: Sue Eckl

Flashes Earn Doubleheader Split in Madeira Beach

2/24/2018 10:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Kent State softball team (7-2) split a pair of games at the second day of the EMU Madeira Beach Tournament defeating Albany, 9-1, and falling to Middle Tennessee, 11-3. The Golden Flashes were led offensively by Holly Speers who was 2-for-3 on the day with a home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and four walks. Madi Huck recorded the win inside the circle against the Great Danes and is a perfect, 5-0, this season.

"The first game was a tough loss, but there were still some bright spots. Kylee Southers had her first career hit, Olivia Sborlini was solid in her relief role, and Sydney Anderson with a double off the bench" said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "I was pleased with how we bounced back after that game and put up runs and played great defense in the second game of the day."

Game 1: Middle Tennessee 11, Kent State 3 (Five Innings)

The Blue Raiders scored first in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch that went to the backstop.

Kent State was quick to answer as Alexis Taube was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game at one.

Aided by five walks and two errors, Middle Tennessee scored six runs in the second inning.

The Flashes scored two of their own in the top of the third as Holly Speers led off with a single to left, and scored on a booted ball by the Blue Raiders' shortstop. Allie Luther got on base via an error and scored on another error to make the game, 7-3.

Middle Tennessee was relentless in the bottom of the third, the Blue Raiders hit a two RBI single and a two-run home run to go up, 11-3.

Kristyn Eckl (0-1) got the first start of her career and went 1.0 inning allowed one hit, six runs, five earned runs, and walked five. Olivia Sborlini made her first collegiate pitching appearance and worked three innings allowing five hits, five runs, four earned runs with three walks.

Taube recorded the first RBI of her career.

Kylee Southers registered the first hit of her career, a base hit up the middle in the second.

Game 2: Kent State 9, Albany 1 (Five Innings)

Kent State opened the scoring in the second inning as Vanessa Vodan singled to bring home Hunter Brancifort.

In the third the Flashes added another single tally on an error by the Albany shortstop, but left the bases loaded to end the frame.

Speers delivered the shot that broke the game open with a three-run bomb to left field in the fourth inning to put the Flashes up, 5-0. Later in the frame Brancifort put together a great at bat, and with two strikes went the opposite way to right field for an RBI single.

The Great Danes scored their only tally in the fifth inning on a single to center field. It was the first earned run allowed by Kent State starter Madi Huck all season. She also worked out of a bases loaded one out jam inducing a popup and a lineout.

Kent State unloaded in the bottom of the fifth for the run rule victory. Bailey Brownfield singled up the middle which brought around Speers. Jen Cader spanked a base hit to right to end the contest and recorded an RBI. The ball was misplayed on the bounce by the right fielder which let Brownfield cross the plate to seal the Kent State, 9-1, victory.

Madi Huck (5-0) allowed six hits with one earned run, one walk and one strikeout. The sophomore from Delaware, Ohio has a miniscule 0.25 ERA in 28.1 innings of work this season.

Up Next

Kent State rounds out the EMU Madeira Beach Tournament tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. against the Villanova Wildcats.