Kent State University
3-2
Penn State
1-4
Kent State Sweeps Series Over Penn State
2/10/2019 3:51:00 PM | Softball
Fort Myers, Fla. – Kent State (3-2) bludgeoned Penn State (1-4), 9-2, on Sunday morning to sweep the season series against the Nittany Lions. The Golden Flashes outscored Penn State, 20-2, and out hit the Nittany Lions, 21-5.
"Overall it was a solid weekend, we got some good wins and gained valuable experience," said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "We had good leadership from our seniors and had solid outings from our pitching staff. We are heading in the right direction."
How it Happened
The Nittany Lions scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning as a passed ball which was followed up by a double brought in the first run. With two outs a throwing error that went high of first sent the second run in.
In the fourth inning, the Golden Flashes bats exploded for seven runs in Kent State's biggest offensive inning of the season. Senior Hunter Brancifort singled to right the tie the game at two, and then senior pinch hitter Hailey Hopkins delivered off the bench with an RBI knock for the second day in row to put the Flashes in front, 3-2.
With the bases loaded sophomore Kaitlyn Miller hit a dribbler down the third base line that scored Cegledy. Then sophomore Kellie Abeska drew a bases loaded walk which was followed up by a two RBI single from senior Bailey Brownfield that deflected off the glove of the diving Penn State shortstop.
Redshirt senior Shelby Hard continued the hot hitting in the fifth with an RBI double she shot to the left centerfield gap to score sophomore Alexis Taube. Senior Jen Cader was plunked with the bases loaded as Kent State extended its lead to a touchdown.
Kent State received production up and down the lineup and received multi-hit days from Hard and sophomore Carlee Selle. Brancifort capped off her successful weekend with 1-for-3 two RBI day and drove in a team-best eight runs this weekend. Junior Maria Cegledy led the squad with two runs scored.
Junior pitcher Madi Huck started the game and pitched three innings in the no decision. She allowed two unearned runs with three hits and two walks. Redshirt freshman Andrea Scali (3-0) continued to deal in her impressive debut weekend and totaled four innings with five strikeouts and allowed just one hit in the win out of the bullpen.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will take a week off from competition and prepare for an extended 11-day road trip that begins with the Baylor Invitation from Feb. 22-24.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Scali, Andrea (3-0)
L: Parshall (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Hard, Shelby 1
RBI: Miller, Kaitlyn 1 ; Cader, Jen 1 ; Abeska, Kellie 1 ; Brownfield, Bailey 2 ; Brancifort, Hunter 2 ; Hopkins, Hailey 1 ; Hard, Shelby 1
SH: Brancifort, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Kaitlyn 1 ; Abeska, Kellie 1 ; Anderson, Sydney 1 ; Selle, Carlee 1 ; Taube, Alexis 1 ; Cegledy, Maria 2 ; Hard, Shelby 1 ; Goth, Kennadie 1
CS: Miller, Kaitlyn 1
HBP: Cader, Jen 1 ; Cruz, Chloe 1
Batting:
2B: Dubois 1
RBI: Dubois 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Polk 1 ; Dubois 1
HBP: Grieco 1 ; J. Williams 1
