Kent State University
10-16
Monmouth
13-9
Cader’s Eight RBIs Powers Sweep Over Monmouth
3/26/2019 7:50:00 PM | Softball
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Jen Cader delivered the go-ahead home run in game one of the doubleheader and had eight RBIs on the day as Kent State (11-16) swept its doubleheader against Monmouth (13-10)
With Kent State down to its final out and trailing by a run, Cader hit a three-run jack to right to push the Flashes in front and allow Anilese Kelly to pitch the seventh and earn the win, 3-1.
Kent State's offense was on fire in the nightcap and banged out 15 hits in a 13-5 run-rule victory. Cader was huge once again and was 2-for-2 with a homer, five RBIs and three runs scored. She was a perfect 4-for-4 with two home runs, 8 RBIs and two walks combined.
"It was a nice homecoming for Jen Cader. It was great to see Anilese Kelly go seven innings and that's the kind of performance we know she's capable of and seeing her do that against a defending conference championship team is very positive for us," said head coach Eric Oakley. "Maria Cegledy is quietly having an incredible season and it's good to see our offense clicking."
Game 1: Kent State 3, Monmouth 1
The Hawks scored first with a single tally in the third on a double to the wall.
Kent State tried to score in the sixth inning but came up empty. Kelly did her job and kept the same score heading to the top of the seventh inning. With one out Brenna Brownfield singled and with two outs Maria Cegledy kept the inning going with another base hit. That set up Cader's heroics as she crushed the go-ahead homer to right.
Kelly came back out to work the seventh and allowed only one baserunner to close out the ballgame.
The Golden Flashes out hit Monmouth 12-5 and received a multiple hit game from Maria Cegledy, Carlee Selle and Bailey Brownfield.
Kelly (1-2) recorded her first career victory and her first complete game going 7.0 innings giving up just five hits and one earned run and struck out a career-best six. Monmouth ace Alyssa Irons (11-6) went all 7.0 and allowed 12 hits, three earned runs, two walks and struck out six.
Game 2: Kent State 13, Monmouth 5 (5 innings)
Three monstrous innings from the Kent State bats lit up the scoreboard in the 13-5 win. Kent State scored four in the first inning on a two RBI double by Cader, a Hunter Brancifort RBI double and a Shelby Hard RBI knock to center.
Kent State followed up with a five run second. Cegledy tattooed a three-run triple to the base of the right field wall, Brancifort scored on a passed ball and Hard doubled to right to put Kent State up, 9-1.
In the fifth frame Bailey Brownfield scored a run on a groundout and Cader hit a three-run tater to blow the game open. Monmouth scored two in the fifth, but could not keep the game going as Madi Huck recorded the final out.
Huck (2-7) went 5.0 innings and only allowed three earned runs, walked one and struck out a season-high seven hitters. The Flashes bats forced Monmouth to use four different pitchers and starter Lilly Robles (2-2) took the loss and could not escape the first inning.
Cegledy finished the day 6-for-7 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Kent State outhit the Hawks, 27-12.
Up Next
Kent State continues its spring break Northeast Corridor road swing with a doubleheader tomorrow, March 26 at Lehigh beginning at 2:30 p.m. Both games can be heard on Golden Flashes iHeart Radio. The Golden Flashes host their home-opener later this week on Friday, March 29 at 3 p.m. against Ball State. The second MAC series of the season concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30 beginning at 1 p.m.
Follow the Flashes
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kelly, Anilese (1-2)
L: Alyssa Irons (11-6)
Batting:
2B: Vodan, Vanessa 1
HR: Cader, Jen 1
RBI: Cader, Jen 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Anderson, Sydney 1 ; Cegledy, Maria 1 ; Cader, Jen 1
Batting:
2B: Sam Tomasetti 1
RBI: Sam Tomasetti 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lindsey Baron 1
SB: Morgan Maziarz 1
