Kent State Concludes Non-Conference with Doubleheader Split

Wednesday, April 24

Kent, Ohio

2:00 P.M.

Kent State University

23-21

St. Francis (Pa.)

21-26

Saint Francis (Pa.)

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Kent State Concludes Non-Conference with Doubleheader Split

4/24/2019 8:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, Ohio – Kent State (24-21) earned a non-conference doubleheader split against two-time defending Northeast Conference Champion Saint Francis (Pa.) (21-27) at the Diamond at Dix on Wednesday evening. The Red Flash won game one 5-4, while the Golden Flashes came back to win the nightcap, 6-2.

Bailey Brownfield went 3-for-4 in game one with a double and moved into sole possession of fourth in the program's record book with her 199th career hit. Her 18 doubles this year are tied for the second most in a single season with Beth Cinadr (2011) and she is three away from tying the school record for most in a career.

Game 1: Saint Francis (Pa.) 5, Kent State 4

Saint Francis came out swinging in the first inning and plated three runs. The Red Flash recorded three extra base hits including a two-run home run. They were also aided on a passed ball which scored a run.

A leadoff homer in the SFU fourth inning made it a 5-0 Red Flash lead. In the fifth inning the Golden Flashes scored four runs with the aid of two free bases to Shelby Hard and Maria Cegledy which allowed Bailey Brownfield to drive in a run with a base hit to center. Brenna Brownfield then drove a ball a double off the wall in left, just missing a home run, that brought in two more. Kent State pushed across another on an error to make it a one run game.

Reliever Anilese Kelly came in the top of the fifth inning and did an exceptional job, going eight up and eight down and inducing a double play.

KSU tried to mount a two out comeback in the seventh inning but it came up just short. Megan Turner walked and pinch hitter Jen Cader singled to right that took a wicked hop on the SFU second baseman that advanced runners to first and third, but the Flashes could not score.

Madi Huck (5-9) took the loss and went four innings allowing five runs, four earned runs while allowing five hits and walking one. Christina Clark (10-8) worked five innings allowing five hits four runs with three earned while walking two. Meadow Uncapher recorder her second save of the year for the Red Flash going two innings while allowing two hits.

The Brownfield sisters accounted for five of Kent State's seven hits. Brenna Brownfield was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs driven in.

Game 2: Kent State 6, Saint Francis (Pa.) 2

The bats of Kaitlyn Miller and Kennadie Goth kick started the KSU offense in the first inning, opening the game with back-to-back singles. Brenna Brownfield plated one, driving a ball off the fence in left center field. But Kent State couldn't push anymore across and left two in scoring position.

SFU tied the game in the top of the third on an bloop RBI double down the left field line and became pitcher Andrea Scali's first run allowed in 24 innings. SFU loaded the bases with one out, but a strikeout and foul out to left prevented any further damage.

The Golden Flashes exploded for a five run fourth. Miller tripled down the right field line and scored Hunter Brancifort from second base to give Kent State the lead which it would not relinquish. Goth hit a bunt single back toward the pitcher which scored another before Brenna Brownfield clobbered a two-run homer to left field. Megan Turner singled and scampered to third on a double by Maria Cegledy and then scored on a wild pitch to cap off the frame.

The Red Flash scraped out a two out run in the seventh inning.

Andrea Scali (18-7) recorded the complete game even though she did not command her best stuff. She allowed six hits with two walks and three hit batter while striking out nine. Mikayla Bower (6-11) went 3.2 frames and allowed nine hits and five runs with three earned.

Kent State's top two hitters in the lineup, Miller and Goth, combined to go 6-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Miller went 4-for-4 on the day with her pinch hit knock in the first game.

Up Next

Kent State travels to the Empire State for a three-game conference series against Buffalo. The series kicks off with a single game on Friday, April 26 at 3 p.m with a doubleheader set for Saturday, April 27 beginning at 1 p.m.

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