Kent State University
UNCW
Kerschner’s Career Day Leads Flashes to Opening Day Split
2/7/2020 10:41:00 PM | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – Sophomore Sabrina Kerschner collected base hits in each of her first three trips to the plate at the Red & Black Showcase to help Kent State earn a 5-3 victory over UNCW in the 2020 softball season opener on Friday. The Golden Flashes struck first in the nightcap against 16th-ranked Georgia, but the host Bulldogs used a big fourth inning to earn a 10-1 victory.
Kent State scored in the opening frame of both games. In the opener, Kerschner doubled down the left field line to start the day and came around to score a few batters later. Junior Brenna Brownfield launched a solo home run for a 1-0 lead over Georgia.
Junior Kennadie Goth and Kerschner led the Flashes with three hits apiece. Senior Vanessa Vodan also had a multi-hit day, while senior Maria Cegledy had a team-high two RBIs. Five of Kent State's six runs were scored with two outs.
Senior Madi Huck was the winning pitch in the opener, while sophomore Anilese Kelly earned her first career save in relief.
Game 1: Kent State 5, UNCW 3
Kent State scored the first four runs and held on for a 5-3 victory in the season opener.
Sabrina Kerschner started the game with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt executed by Kennadie Goth. Following a strikeout, Kerschner scored after the UNCW third baseman misplayed a ball struck by Megan Turner.
Kerschner and Goth had back-to-back singles in the top of the third. A lineout to right allowed Kerschner to advance to third, and she then crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Turner drew a two-out walk, and Maria Cegledy followed by hitting a double to center to bring home a pair of runs for a 4-0 lead.
The Seahawks were able to push a run across the plate in the bottom of the third, but Kent State got that run back in the fourth inning. With two outs in the frame, Vanessa Vodan doubled down the left field line and scored when the speedy Kerschner sent the ball to the left side of the infield and beat out a rushed throw that got past the first baseman.
UNCW scored twice in the fifth. After having the side retired in the sixth, a hit by pitch brought the tying run to the dish with one out in the seventh. A strikeout and groundout followed to end the game.
Kerschner went 3-for-4 in the game and scored two runs. Goth collected a hit in both of her official at-bats to go with a walk and sac bunt.
Madi Huck (1-0) was the victorious pitcher, striking out five and allowing one run in five innings in the circle. Anilese Kelly pitched the final three innings to record the save. Kelly allowed two runs and matched her career-high with five strikeouts.
Game 2: #16 Georgia 10, Kent State 1 (5 innings)
Brenna Brownfield homered over the left field wall to give the Flashes a 1-0 lead in the opening frame.
Kent State had an opportunity to break the game open in the third but left the bases loaded. Singles by Vanessa Vodan and Kennadie Goth put runners on the corners with one out. The Bulldogs then showed Brownfield, the 2019 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, the ultimate respect by intentionally walking her to place a runner at each base. The Flashes were unable to deliver a timely hit, however, and it remained a 1-0 game.
A leadoff triple started a two-run bottom of the third for the hosts. Georgia's offense then plated eight in the fourth.
Andrea Scali (0-1) struck out five and allowed eight runs in 3.2 innings.
On Deck for the Flashes
First pitch for Kent State's first game on Saturday is 10:30 a.m. against Howard. The Flashes will look to avenge the loss to the 16th-ranked Bulldogs at 1 p.m. That game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
