Kent State University
Toledo
Kent State Will Play from No. 2 Line at MAC Tournament
5/6/2019 5:14:00 PM | Softball
The Kent State softball team (25-22, 11-5 MAC) will attempt to win its second Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship in the last three years this week at Firestone Stadium in Akron. The Golden Flashes have qualified for a record 16th straight conference tournament and will be the No. 2 seed at this year's tournament taking on the No. 7 Toledo on Wednesday, May 8th at 3:30 p.m.
Last Time Out
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali threw just the fourth perfect game in school history in her last start on Saturday and led Kent State to a 4-0 victory over Bowling Green. It was the second seven-inning perfect game in program history and the first since 1983, as Scali also punched out a career-high 14 batters.
Senior third baseman Bailey Brownfield accomplished a career milestone rarely seen in school history and became just the fourth player to reach 200 hits. She hit a rocket single off the foot of the Bowling Green pitcher and to drive in a run. The Thornville, Ohio native added her 201st career hit, which is the third most in school history.
Record Book Watch
Bailey Brownfield has cemented herself in the top-10 in program history in three major offensive categories. She is now third in hits (201), second in doubles (45) and seventh in RBIs (113). 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). She has played in 212 games, which is tied for the second most in school history with Maddy Grimm (2014-17).
Senior shortstop Hunter Brancifort has been hit by a pitch 12 times this year and tied her own second place mark in 2017 for the third most in a season in KSU history. Her 36 career hit by pitch's are the most in school history.
Andrea Scali is rising through the school's record book for her single-season accomplishments. Her 227 strikeouts are the ninth most and she is the first freshman to record over 200 strikeouts since current pitching coach Emma Johnson's 233 in 2012. Her 10 shutouts are the fourth most and the first double-digit shutout year since Johnson's 11 in 2015.
Sensational Scali
Redshirt freshman pitcher Andrea Scali has compiled one of the most memorable campaigns by a freshman in program history. During conference play she led the MAC in ERA (1.00), wins (9), shutouts (4), opponent batting average (.182) and WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched = 0.94) and was second in strikeouts (98) and K/7 (8.52). She was a five-time MAC Pitcher of the Week this year and was named National Pitcher/Player of the Week on two separate occasions by the NFCA and USA Softball.
Nationally, she is eighth in shutouts (10), ninth in strikeouts per seven innings (9.8), 15th in total strikeouts (227) and fourth in total strikeouts among freshmen.
She has thrown three no-hitters this year against Youngtown State, Robert Morris and Bowling Green and became the first MAC freshman hurler to throw a no-hitter since 2012. Her three no-no's are the most in a single season in Kent State history, surpassing Emma Johnson (2015; Michigan State & Bowling Green) and Kylie Reynolds (2009; Charleston Southern & Stetson).
MAC Tournament Format
As in previous years, the MAC Tournament will once again feature an eight-team, double-elimination format. See the attached bracket above for a complete tournament schedule.
Team MAC Overall
Miami 16-4 33-14
Kent State 11-5 25-22
Ohio 12-8 31-19
Northern Illinois 11-9 26-23
Central Michigan 11-9-1 21-26-1
Ball State 9-8 34-18
Toledo 10-9 23-25
Western Michigan 9-11 18-26
MAC Success
The Golden Flashes have claimed three MAC Tournament Championships (2006, 2008 and 2017) and compiled a 33-32 record in the tournament. Since the MAC began playing its postseason at Firestone Stadium, KSU is 21-21. Over the last five seasons, Kent State is 81-39 during regular season conference contests. KSU is the No. 2 seed for the third time in program history, and most recently won the championship in 2017 when it played as the four.
#FlashFacts
- Kent State was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference and hit that mark with an 11-5 league record to finish the regular season. KSU received one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
- Brenna Brownfield led the MAC in conference-only games with a .488 batting average, while ranking second in on-base percentage (.542) and fourth in slugging percentage (.791). During the month of April, she led the team in batting average (.460), slugging percentage (.800), RBIs (16), and on-base percentage (.518).
- Kaitlyn Miller registered a hit in seven of her last eight games and batted .378 in April.
- Jen Cader has reached base in 13 consecutive games which is the longest streak by any Kent State player this season.
- 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.
- During conference games, the Golden Flashes outscored their opponents 39-13 from the fifth inning on.
- Prior to the start of conference play, Kent State played the sixth toughest schedule in the nation.
- Kent State is ranked 66th 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.
- The Golden Flashes were recently recognized by the NCAA as having an Academic Progress Rate in the top 10% of all Division I softball teams in the country.
Last Time out vs. Toledo
Kent State traveled to Toledo (23-25, 10-9 MAC) for the MAC opener and took two of the three games of the series. Brenna Brownfield had a huge weekend and went 5-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs. The Golden Flashes have never faced Toledo in the MAC Tournament and are 60-37 all-time against the Rockets.
Up Next
If the Golden Flashes win their opening game against Toledo, they will play the winner of No. 3 Ohio and No. 6 Ball State at 3:30 on Friday May, 9th at 3:30 p.m. If Kent State was to fall in its opening round game it would play the loser of the previously mentioned game on Friday, May 9th at 6 p.m.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter and Instagram for news and in-game updates about the squad.
