Flashes Battle with #12 Arizona in Extra Inning Defeat

Saturday, March 2

Tucson, Ariz.

3:30 P.M./1:30 MST

Kent State University

6-9

James Madison

7-2

James Madison

Kent State

Photo by: Rod Aydelotte

Flashes Battle with #12 Arizona in Extra Inning Defeat

3/3/2019 12:05:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TUCSON, Ariz. – Kent State (6-10) fought tooth and nail with #12 Arizona (14-5) and came back from a two-run deficit in the seventh inning and eventually fell in the eighth inning, 7-6.

"I'm not a fan of morale victories, but I'm proud of how we played tonight," said head coach Eric Oakley. "I'm proud of how we played and this is a step in the right direction."

The Golden Flashes tagged the Wildcats for five hits and received contributions when it counted from up and down the lineup. KSU dropped its first game today to #19 James Madison (9-2), 8-1.

Game 1: #19 James Madison 8, Kent State 1

Hunter Brancifort crushed a solo home run in the first inning to give Kent State a 1-0 lead. The Dukes answered and scored eight unanswered runs and scored one in the second and third and then three each in the fifth and sixth.

James Madison outhit Kent State 13-8 as Dukes' start Odicci Alexander (3-0) scatter hits throughout her five innings of work. Brancifort's second home run of the season was the only extra base hit of the game.

Madi Huck (0-6) worked five innings and pitched to contact allowing eight hits and four earned runs. The one walk she allowed hurt the Flashes as it came around to score. Brenna Brownfield and Anilese Kelly each made appearances out of the pen with Kelly firing 1.2 innings of scoreless ball.

Game 2: #12 Arizona 7, Kent State 6 (8 innings)

The Golden Flashes scored first in the very first inning as Brancifort was the key cog once against. Kennadie Goth drew a one out walk and then Brancifort scalded a double that was hit so hard it deflected off the leg of the Arizona shortstop and caromed to left to score Goth.

The Flashes compiled their biggest inning of the weekend in the third and posted four runs. Bailey Brownfield singled to left with the bases loaded and scored Alexis Taube who began the inning with a walk. Carlee Selle then drove a single to center to plate two more and Kent State went up, 4-0.

Arizona's potent offense came alive in the third with a two-run home run and then scored three in the fourth all with two out extra base hits to claim a 5-4 advantage.

In the fifth the Wildcats hit a solo home run to lead by two.

With their backs against the wall in the seventh inning, the Flashes showed lots of fight and sent the game to extras. Jen Cader tattooed a ball off the wall in right that was played perfectly and kept her at first. KSU loaded the bases on an error and a fielder's choice and pitcher Andrea Scali was called upon to hit. She was hit by the pitch and recorded her first career RBI and brought the Flashes within one. Bailey Brownfield delivered with a sacrifice fly to left and tied the game at six.

Scali fired a shutdown seventh and sent the game to extras. With the international tiebreaker in effect, KSU was unable to score as the Wildcats brought their ace out of the pen. Arizona scored on a fielder's choice to win the game.

Freshman Andrea Scali (6-3) pitcher well inside the circle and fanned 10 Arizona hitter, the second most for UA this season, trailing only #4 Oklahoma. The Wildcats used four arms with Taylor McQuillin (6-4) earned the win pitching a scoreless eighth.

Up Next

Kent State closes out the Wildcat Invitational on Sunday, March 3 and 11 a.m. EST / 9 a.m. PST against Drake.