Kent State University
Pitt
Flashes Prepare for a Trio of Midweek Games
4/15/2019 4:34:00 PM | Softball
Kent State (18-20) will step out of conference action for three midweek games against two teams from the Steel City. The Golden Flashes will travel to Pitt (7-36) on Tuesday, April 16 for a 5 p.m. tilt that will air on ACC Network Extra. Kent State returns home to host Robert Morris (13-28) on Wednesday, April 17 for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. All games will air on the Golden Flashes iHeart Radio Channel.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes took the first game of the series against Miami 3-0 as Andrea Scali hurled a shutout. Bailey Brownfield drove in the first run of the game on a double to centerfield and her sister Brenna Brownfield plated the other two runs.
Kent State dropped both games of the Saturday doubleheader including a 14-inning affair which is tied for the third longest game in the country this year. Maria Cegledy and Jen Cader each clubbed home runs that extended the game when Kent State was trailing in the seventh and the eighth inning, respectively.
Hot Start to MAC Play
Kent State currently is tied for first in the Mid-American Conference with an 8-4 record. The Golden Flashes got off to their best start in league play since 2015 with an 8-2 mark through the first 10 games.
Brownfield Moving Up the Record Books
Bailey Brownfield has cemented herself in the top-10 in program history in three major offensive categories. She is now fifth in career-hits (187). She is now tied for fourth in career doubles (40) and her 106 career RBIs is seventh in school history.
About Kent State
Senior Bailey Brownfield leads the squad with a .336 batting average, 37 hits, 13 doubles and 21 RBIs. Senior Hunter Brancifort has driven in 14 runs so far and leads the team with four home runs and 17 runs scored.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali has shined this season. She has held the opposition to a batting average of .205 and is 15th in the country in strikeouts per seven innings (9.6). The Parma, Ohio native is fifth in the NCAA among freshmen in strikeouts (171). She has already claimed four 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.
- Kent State is ranked 71st in the most recent NCAA RPI report which is the best in the MAC.
- The Golden Flashes are tied for first in the MAC with a .966 fielding percentage.
- 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
Kent State leads the all-time series over the Panthers 14-13, but Pitt has had the upper hand in the matchups over the last few years and won the last six. Kent State's last win was at the Diamond at Dix in a 6-1 victory in 2014.
The Golden Flashes are 16-10 against Robert Morris and are meeting for a midweek doubleheader for the first time since 2016.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes travel to Akron for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 20 at 3 p.m.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter and Instagram for news and in-game updates about the squad.
