Kent State University
8-8
Fordham
4-12
Flashes Score 23 Runs Friday at Duke Invitational
3/6/2020 9:09:00 PM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Kent State's bats came alive for 26 hits while splitting a pair of games during Friday's opening day of the Duke Invitational. The Golden Flashes started the day with a 14-5 victory in six innings over Fordham and then fell to Lafayette in walk-off fashion, 10-9.
All nine batters contributed to a season-high 17 hits in the afternoon contest against the Rams. The Flashes collected six hits as part of a seven-run top of the sixth that helped bring the game to an early ending.
Junior Brenna Brownfield was the offensive catalyst with, hitting 6-for-9 with three doubles and six RBIs. Junior Kaitlyn Miller and senior Vanessa Vodan added four hits each. Miller, junior Kennadie Goth and sophomore Megan Turner had two RBIs each.
Senior Madi Huck (4-3) was the pitcher of record in both contests, going the distance in the first game and tossing two relief innings in the nightcap. Huck had eight strikeouts and allowed eight runs on 12 hits in eight innings total.
The Flashes struggled defensively, committing six errors that led to eight unearned runs.
Game 1: Kent State 14, Fordham 5 (6 innings)
The Golden Flashes sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the second inning to erase a 3-0 deficit. Vanessa Vodan beat out an infield and advanced to second when an errant throw got away from the first baseman. Sabrina Kerschner added a single to move Vodan to third. Two batters later, Kennadie Goth singled through the right side to score Vodan. A double by Kaitlyn Miller tied the game and Brenna Brownfield gave Kent State 4-3 lead with a single to left field. Madyson Cole followed with a single to conclude a stretch of four consecutive two-out hits.
Fordham went back ahead in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer.
Kent State took advantage of a pair of errors to plate two in the top of the third for a 6-5 lead.
Madi Huck settled down in the circle for the Flashes, allowing just two Rams to advance past first base the rest of the way. Huck went the distance and recorded seven strikeouts. She allowed 10 earned runs on six hits.
Two more errors by the Rams and a passed ball in the fifth extended Kent State's lead to 7-5.
The Flashes pounded six hits to score seven more in the top of the sixth. Following singles by Carlee Selle and Vodan, Olivia Sborlini launched a three-run homer to right field. A walk, single, error and passed ball allowed Kerschner to score and placed Maria Cegledy on second. Back-to-back singles by Miller and Brownfield score Cegledy to make it 12-5. Cole was hit by a pitch for the second time on the day to load the bases, and Miller scored when the catcher took her foot off the plate on a fielder's choice off the bat of Selle. Vodan was then hit by a pitch to score the final run.
Kent State totaled a season-high 17 hits with all nine starters recording a hit. Brenna Brownfield had a career-high four hits to go with two RBIs. Vanessa Vodan matcher her career-high with three hits, Olivia Sborlini led the way with three RBIs, while Kennadie Goth and Kaitlyn Miller drove in a pair of runs each. Maria Cegledy and Sabrina Kerschner both scored three times.
Game 2: Lafayette 10, Kent State 9
Malori Pojar homered to straightaway center field to start the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Leopards a walk-off victory.
The Flashes plated three in each of the first two innings to lead 6-1. Brooklyn Whitt was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored following an error that allowed Kennadie Goth to reach safely and move to second. Kaitlyn Miller singled, and Maria Cegledy walked to load the bases. Megan Turner then brought in Goth and Miller with a single to center.
In the second, an error and a walk put two runners on for Kent State. Brenna Brownfield brought both home with a double and then scored on a double down the left field line by Maria Cegledy.
Lafayette answered with six runs on five hits, three errors and a walk in the bottom of the second to go ahead 7-6.
In the top of the fourth, Brownfield drew a walk and moved to third on another double by Cegledy. Sabrina Kerschner then reached on a fielder's choice and Cegledy was able to avoid the tag on her way to third to allow Brownfield to score and tie the game.
Brownfield put the Flashes back ahead in the fifth with a double that plated Whitt and Miller.
A double, error, walk and successful double-steal attempt by the Leopards made it a 9-9 game through five innings.
Both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning, The Flashes left a pair of runners on in the top of the seventh, and Pojar jumped on the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the inning to give the Leopards the victory.
Kent State totaled nine hits and left 10 runners on base in the loss. Brenna Brownfield had a career-high four RBIs to lead the Flashes. Kaitlyn Miller and Maria Cegledy also had multi-hit games. Brooklyn Whitt recorded two stolen bases and was one of four Flashes to score twice.
Gabbie Sherman went 1.2 innings in her first collegiate start. Anilese Kelly allowed just one hit in 2.1 scoreless innings in the circle. Madi Huck had three strikeouts and allowed one earned run in two innings.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will conclude the weekend with two games on Saturday. The Flashes are scheduled to play Howard at 9:30 a.m. before battling host Duke at 2:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Huck, Madi (4-2)
L: MILLER (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Miller, Kaitlyn 1 ; Brownfield, Brenna 1
HR: Sborlini, Olivia 1
RBI: Goth, Kennadie 2 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 2 ; Brownfield, Brenna 2 ; Bowers, Morgan 1 ; Sborlini, Olivia 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cegledy, Maria 3 ; Goth, Kennadie 1 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 2 ; Brownfield, Brenna 1 ; Selle, Carlee 1 ; Vodan, Vanessa 1 ; Bowers, Morgan 1 ; Sborlini, Olivia 1 ; Kerschner, Sabrina 3
SB: Kerschner, Sabrina 1
HBP: Cole, Madyson 2 ; Bowers, Morgan 1
Batting:
HR: MARTINE 1
RBI: MARTINE 2 ; AUGHINBAUGH 1 ; BARNEY 1 ; BRIGHT 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PINTO 2 ; MARTINE 1 ; AUGHINBAUGH 1 ; CARTER 1
SB: PINTO 1 ; AUGHINBAUGH 1 ; CARTER 1
