Kent State University
Ball State
Kent State Opens Home Schedule with MAC Series against Ball State
3/28/2019 1:41:00 PM | Softball
Kent State (12-17, 2-1 MAC) will host its home opener at the Diamond at Dix this weekend when it welcomes Ball State (25-10, 3-0 MAC) for a three-game Mid-American Conference series. Due to inclement weather in the area, the two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, March 29 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The series will conclude with a single game scheduled for Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. All of this weekend's games will air on Golden Flashes TV.
Last Time Out
Kent State won three of four games during its midweek trip to the Northeast Corridor for spring break. The Golden Flashes swept a doubleheader against Monmouth on Tuesday and split with Lehigh on Wednesday.
Jen Cader had a big day at the plate on Tuesday, hitting the go-ahead three-run home run when Kent State was down to its final out in a 3-1 come from behind triumph over Monmouth. In the nightcap, she collected five RBIs with a double and triple in the 13-5 run rule victory against the Hawks. Cader went 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs, eight RBIs, two walks and four runs scored on the day.
Anilese Kelly registered her first career win against the Hawks and limited them to just one run. She went seven innings and allowed five hits and struck out a career-best six.
Bailey Brownfield turned in an impressive four double day in the doubleheader split against Lehigh. In the opener, she recorded two doubles and drove in both of Kent State's runs with a two out two RBI double in the 5-2 defeat. She doubled twice more in the nightcap and drove in two more in Kent State's 5-0 victory.
The pitching duo of Madi Huck and Andrea Scali combined to one-hit the Mountain Hawks. Huck earned the win pitching four frames, while Scali recorded the three-inning save and struck out eight of the nine batters she faced.
Megan Turner also hit her first career home run in the victory.
Brownfield Moving Up the Record Books
With her big week at the plate, Bailey Brownfield has entered the top-10 in program history in three major offensive categories. She is now tied for eighth in career-hits (179) with Lisa Veneziano (1990-93) and Jessica Carmichael (2008-11). She is fifth in career doubles (38) and is tied with Carmichael and Kim Henzler (1990-93). Her 101 career RBIs is seventh in school history.
About Kent State
Sophomore Kennadie Goth leads the team with a .365 batting average, has registered 23 hits and saw her batting average jump 40 points this week. Senior Bailey Brownfield paces the squad with 29 hits, 11 doubles and 16 RBIs. Senior Hunter Brancifort has driven in 12 runs so far and leads the team with four home runs, the last one a solo shot against Toledo.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali has shined this season. She has held the opposition to a batting average of .209 and is 11th in the country in strikeouts per seven innings (10.2). She has already claimed three MAC Pitcher of the Week Awards and was honored with the USA Softball National Collegiate Co-Player of the Week for her pair of victories over #21 Baylor. She threw the first freshman no-hitter at Kent State since 2009 this year against Youngstown State.
#FlashFacts
- Kent State was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference and received a vote to win the MAC Tournament in the preseason coaches' poll.
- Brancifort has been hit by a pitch 33 times in a career which is the most in school history.
- Fourth-year head coach Eric Oakley became the fastest Kent State head coach to earn their 100th victory at KSU, as Oakley accomplished the feat in 173 games with a 7-1 season-opening win over LIU Brooklyn. During his three complete seasons as the skipper, the Golden Flashes have finished each season with a .540 or better winning percentage and have won nine postseason games.
- Prior to the start of conference play, Kent State played the sixth toughest schedule in the nation.
- Oakley moved to 9-3 in MAC opening series last weekend at Toledo.
- This season, Kent State returned All-MAC First Team selection Bailey Brownfield as well as All-MAC Second Team members Maria Cegledy, Kennadie Goth, Madi Huck and Brenna Brownfield.
Series History
The Golden Flashes lead the all-time series against Ball State. 50-32, and Kent State has won five of the last six meetings. Last season Kent State took the series in Muncie with Madi Huck earning both victories inside the circle. Oakley is 4-2 when facing Ball State in his career.
Up Next
Kent State remains home to play a mid-week conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 2 against Ohio. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated to start at 1 p.m. with game two following 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter and Instagram for news and in-game updates about the squad.
