Kent State University
22-20, 9-4
Akron
10-26-2, 2-13
Flashes Bludgeon Zips in Doubleheader Sweep
4/20/2019 6:52:00 PM | Softball
AKRON, Ohio – Kent State's (23-20, 10-4 MAC) bats exploded for 15 runs in two games in a doubleheader sweep of Akron (10-27-2, 2-14 MAC) on Saturday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field. Senior Bailey Brownfield doubled two times and has recorded 44 career doubles, the second most in program history. Andrea Scali threw 10.2 innings in both games, earned two victories, struck out 13 and did not allow an earned run.
"We had some really big offensive innings that gave us the lift we needed today," said head coach Eric Oakley. "It was good to get a sweep in the MAC against our rivals."
Game 1: Kent State 9, Akron 0 (5 innings)
The Golden Flashes struck first in the second inning with a Kaitlyn Miller two out RBI flare double to left center that plated Brancifort from first.
Kent State kept putting runners on base, but were unable to score again until the fifth when the offense exploded for eight runs on nine hits. Goth and Bailey and Brenna Brownfield all singled to load the bases setting up Megan Turner's grand slam to put the Flashes up, 5-0. It was Turner's fourth homer in her last five games and she has been hitting above .480 in April. RBI knocks from Miller and both Brownfield sisters capped off the inning with sent 13 batters to the plate.
Scali threw her third shutout of the week and limited the Zips to just two hits and struck out five. Kooper Vertz (0-3) took the loss for Akron and allowed five earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.
Game 2:
The Flashes jumped out to an early lead with a single tally in the first inning. Bailey Brownfield doubled to right with two outs and was driven in on her sister Brenna Brownfield's single through the left side. Bailey Brownfield's double was the 44th of her career as she passed Maddy Grimm (2013-17) to move into second in the program's record books.
The bats kept attacking and five more Flashes runs crossed the plate in the second. Hunter Brancifort doubled in a run and Kennadie Goth drove in another one while reaching on an error. Jen Cader crossed the plate on a wild pitch and then Bailey Brownfield drove in two more on a single.
The Zips snuck across four runs in the sixth inning and Scali was reinserted back to pitch after coming out before the fifth. She moved to 17-7 with the win and pitched 5.2 innings allowing four hits with eight strikeouts. The Parma, Ohio native is now 8-1 in league play with opponents hitting .196. Adrian Smith allowed all the damage for the Zips in 1.1 innings and dropped to 7-11.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes host Saint Francis (Pa.) for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 24 at 2 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Scali, Andrea (16-7)
L: VERTZ, Kooper (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Cegledy, Maria 1 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 2
HR: Turner, Megan 1
RBI: Brownfield, Bailey 1 ; Brownfield, Brenna 1 ; Turner, Megan 4 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 3
SH: Selle, Carlee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cader, Jen 1 ; Goth, Kennadie 1 ; Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Sborlini, Olivia 1 ; Turner, Megan 1 ; Selle, Carlee 1 ; Brancifort, Hunter 2 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 1
Batting:
2B: CREWS, Jordan 1
SF: CLOWDUS, Maddy 1
Base Running:
SB: BRUTON, Sabria 1
CS: CREWS, Jordan 1
