Offense Bounces Back for Run-Rule Victory Over UMBC

Tuesday, March 27

Baltimore, Md.

1:00 P.M.

Kent State University

14-11

Mount St. Mary's

8-13

Kent State

Mount St. Mary's

Photo by: David Dermer

Offense Bounces Back for Run-Rule Victory Over UMBC

3/27/2018 7:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BALTIMORE, Md. – Kent State's bats rolled to an 11-3 six inning run rule victory over UMBC in game two of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. Vanessa Scoarste hit a home run and Hallie Ward and Kylee Southers smacked RBI doubles, all firsts in their careers, and KSU clubbed a total of four home runs on the day. The Golden Flashes fell in the first game of the day to Mount St. Mary's, 11-7.

"Errors and walks killed us in the first game and we needed to do a better job of backing up our pitchers in that game. Olivia Sborlini and Brenna Brownfield did their jobs today," said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "It was nice to see us bounce back in the second game against UMBC and we scored the runs we needed to finish it early.

Game 1: Mount Saint Mary's 11, Kent State 7

Kent State was clawing to fight back from the third inning on as the Mountaineers took advantage of walks and put up a five spot in the third to take a 6-2 lead. Kent State chipped away for a single tally in the fourth, but the Mount St. Mary's Lindsay Heinze clubbed a three-run homer to take a 9-3 lead.

Allie Luther came through with a three-run pinch hit homer to pull the Flashes back in it, sending a ball over the left center field fence. Bailey Brownfield singled in the inning and Kaitlyn Miller scored on a throwing error to cut the deficit to 9-7. The Mountaineers chipped away for two more insurance runs to close out the game. Kent State struggled with runners on base all game, stranding 15.

Brownfield was 2-for-2 with two singles and three walks. Pinch hitter Vanessa Vodan added two singles.

Game 2: Kent State 11, UMBC 3 (Six Innings)

Many career firsts occurred in the game for Kent State's hitters in the rout over the Retrievers. Vanessa Scoarste sent her first career dinger out over the deepest part of the park to center, Hallie Ward had her first career hit which for a two-run scoring double and Kylee Southers her first double and also brought a runner in.

Hunter Brancifort banged a three-run jack to left field to put the Flashes in front, 3-1. KSU exploded for six runs in the fifth innings. Brownfield and Vodan both recorded RBI singles in addition to Ward's and Southers' doubles and Scoarste's homer. Five of the runs came across to score with two outs.

Holly Speers got in on the act with her ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot, to give Kent State it's 11-3 lead.

Brenna Brownfield got the win inside the circle dealing six innings allowing three earned runs, four hits and four walks while striking out two.

Sydney Anderson also provided a spark to the lineup with two singles and two runs scored. Vodan recorded another pair of singles and finished the day 4-for-7.

Up Next

Kent State rounds out its spring break trip with a single-game against Georgetown, Wednesday, March 28 at 2 p.m. The Flashes will host Toledo later this week for the second Mid-American Conference series.