Kent State University
Buffalo
Softball Travels to Buffalo for Three-Game Series
4/25/2019 3:44:00 PM | Softball
The Kent State softball team (24-21, 10-4 MAC) will make its final Mid-American Conference road trip of the season this weekend when it visits Buffalo (10-29-1, 6-7-1 MAC) for a three-game series beginning with a single game on Friday, April 26 at 3 p.m. The series wraps up Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The first two games of the set can be heard on the Golden Flashes iHeart Radio channel.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes split a doubleheader against Saint Francis (Pa.) at home on Wednesday, dropping the first game 5-4 and coming 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 199 career hits and 45 doubles are three away from tying the school's career record.
Kent State tried to comeback from a five-run deficit in the first game with a four run fifth inning, but came up just after putting up a four-spot in the fifth.Â
The offense scored six runs on 13 hits in game two and was paced by Kennadie Goth and Kaitlyn Miller's 3-for-3 game. 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. 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.
Andrea Scali (18-7) recorded the win with nine strikeouts. She is closing in on becoming the program's first freshman 20-game winner since Emma Johnson in 2013.
State of the MAC
The Golden Flashes are in second place in the conference standings before heading into this weekend's series against the Bulls. The conference sends the top-eight teams to its tournament that begins on May 8th at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The league tournament features a double elimination format and the Golden Flashes last won it in 2017 as the four seed.
Scali Recognized Nationally for the Second Time
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week last week. She threw her second no-hitter of the year and did not surrender a run in 22.2 innings of work while recording four wins. The Parma, Ohio native struck out 32 while only allowing eight hits and holding the opposition to a .107 batting average. Earlier this season USA Softball named Scali the Co-National Player of the Week when she recorded two victories over #21 Baylor and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against North Texas.
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 fourth in hits (199), second in doubles (45) and seventh in RBIs (112). She is chasing Carla Brookbank's (1991-95) school record of 48 doubles. 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.
About Kent State
Sophomore Brenna Brownfield leads the squad with a .378 batting average and is tied for the club lead with five home runs. Her sister, senior Bailey Brownfield paces the team with 49 hits, 17 doubles and 25 RBIs. Senior Jen Cader and freshman Megan Turner are tied with Brenna Brownfield for the home run lead.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali has shined this season. She has held the opposition to a batting average of .191, The Parma, Ohio native is fourth in the NCAA among freshmen in strikeouts (201). Scali is sixth in the country in shutouts (9), 10th in strikeouts per seven innings (9.7) and 14th in strikeouts (203). In addition to leading the MAC in shutouts and strikeouts, she also paces the conference in ERA (2.33) and hits allowed per seven innings (4.86). She has already claimed five MAC Pitcher of the Week Awards and was honored two times this season as the USA Softball National Collegiate Co-Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week.
#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. KSU is currently in second place in the league standings with a 10-4 MAC mark.
- Brenna Brownfield leads the MAC in conference-only games with a .525 batting average, second in on base percentage (.581) and fifth in slugging percentage (.850). During the month of April she has led the team in batting average (.460), slugging percentage (.800), RBIs (16), and on base percentage (.518). She has recorded multiple hits in each of her last four games.
- Kaitlyn Miller is on a six-game hitting streak and is batting .378 in April.
- Hunter Brancifort has been hit by a pitch 36 times in a career which, is the most in school history. Her 11 hit by pitches this year are the sixth most in school history.
- Kent State ranks in the top-100 in the NCAA for batting average (.287) and fielding percentage (.965).
- 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 67th in the most recent NCAA RPI report, which is the best in the MAC. The Golden Flashes 15 true road wins this year is tied for the third-most in the country.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (10-29-1, 6-7-1 MAC) are coming into the weekend fresh off a 12-3 victory, dismantling St. Bonaventure in five innings. Buffalo began the season on a 19-game losing skid, but won six of its first 11 league games. Anna Aguon commands a .395 batting average and has recorded the second-most hits in the MAC (51). Ally Power is the leader inside the circle with a 5-16 record and a 5.40 ERA.
Series History
The Golden Flashes have the upper hand in the series with a 33-8 mark against the Bulls. Kent State has won the last 11 meetings and last season outscored UB 33-3 at home in the three-game set.
Up Next
Kent State closes out the regular season with a two-game conference series at home against Bowling Green in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 4 beginning at 1 p.m. Senior day festivities will follow after the conclusion of game two.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter and Instagram for news and in-game updates about the squad.
