Kent State University
Ohio
Flashes Take to Ohio to Complete Series
4/9/2019 12:24:00 PM | Softball
The Kent State softball team (16-18, 6-2 MAC) travels to Athens this week for a mid-week Mid-American Conference tilt against Ohio (25-15, 6-5 MAC) on Wednesday, April 10 at 2 p.m. The Golden Flashes are currently first in the MAC standings and are playing the rubber match of the series against Ohio, as the two split a doubleheader in Kent last Tuesday. Wednesday's game can be heard on Golden Flashes iHeart Radio.
Last Time Out
Kent State swept its three-game series at Western Michigan (5-2, 6-3, 4-1) last weekend and moved into first place in the conference standings. The Golden Flashes came from behind to win every game of the series and outscored the Broncos 13-0 in the sixth inning and became the first team to go into Ebert Field and sweep a series since Toledo in 2016.
Both Bailey and Brenna Brownfield each went 4-for-11 in the three-game set. Brenna Brownfield drove in three runs and throughout the entire five-game week hit .467 (7-for-15) with five RBIs and three doubles.
Kaitlyn Miller also had a successful weekend at the plate, scoring a team-best four runs with a three RBI triple and a solo home run.
Pitcher Andrea Scali recorded two wins on the weekend and struck out 22 while only walking three. On Friday, she retired 18 consecutive Bronco batters and fanned 12. Madi Huck threw her best conference game of the year and scattered seven hits in the 6-3 Saturday victory.
Kent State has now won seven of the last eight meetings against Western Michigan.
Recapping the Series
Kent State split its home opener on Tuesday afternoon winning the first game 2-1 before falling in the nightcap, 10-2.
Pitcher Andrea Scali improved to 2-0 in conference games as she stymied the Bobcats' bats and allowed just one run. It was the first time in 13 games Ohio didn't score more than one run, and she fanned eight batters in the process.
The Golden Flashes came back from an early deficit and tied the game in the second on a Hunter Brancifort RBI double. Brenna Brownfield clubbed the go-ahead homer in the fourth.
Kent State fell behind early in game two and could not climb out of the hole. Sophomore Brenna Brownfield hit another double and also walked. Pinch hitter Alexis Taube hit a towering two-run home run to center in the fifth inning to break up the shutout, but the rally was too late for the Flashes in the 10-2 defeat.
Brownfield Moving Up the Record Books
With her week at the plate, Bailey Brownfield has cemented herself in the top-10 in program history in three major offensive categories. She is now tied for sixth in career-hits (183) with Holly Speers (2015-18). She is fifth in career doubles (39) and her 104 career RBIs is seventh in school history.
About Kent State
Sophomore Kennadie Goth leads the team with a .342 batting average and has recorded 27 hits. Senior Bailey Brownfield paces the squad with 33 hits, 12 doubles and 19 RBIs.
Senior Hunter Brancifort has driven in 14 runs so far and leads the team with four home runs.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali has shined this season. She has held the opposition to a batting average of .205 and is sixth in the country in strikeouts per seven innings (10.4). The Parma, Ohio native is fifth in the NCAA among freshmen in strikeouts (151). 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.
- In conference play Brenna Brownfield is 12-for-21 with eight extra base hits and nine RBIs.
- 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.
- Oakley is 6-3 in the rubber match of a three-game MAC series.
- Prior to the start of conference play, Kent State played the sixth toughest schedule in the nation.
- Kent State is ranked 74th in the most recent NCAA RPI report which is the best in the MAC.
- 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 against Ohio. 70-52. Ohio took all three games played last season and this year the two squads split.
Up Next
Kent State returns home to the Diamond at Dix for a three-game set against Miami. The first game of the series is on Friday, April 12 at 3 p.m. A doubleheader will be played on Saturday, April 13 beginning 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.
