Softball Splits Games Saturday at Duke Invitational

Saturday, March 7

Durham, N.C.

9:30 a.m.

Kent State University

9-9

Howard

2-19

Howard

Kent State

Photo by: Sue Eckl

Softball Splits Games Saturday at Duke Invitational

3/7/2020 7:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – For the second day in a row, Kent State won its first game of the day at the Duke Invitational and then lost in its second. The Golden Flashes (9-10) beat Howard, 6-2, in an early morning contest and then had a 3-1 setback against the host Blue Devils.

Junior Brenna Brownfield and sophomore Sabrina Kerschner each had three hits as Kent State outhit its opponents 16-9 on the day. Brownfield added two more doubles to give her seven on the season and drove in a pair of runs. Junior Kaitlyn Miller scored three times after reaching on two singles and being hit by a pitch.

After a rough day in the field Friday, Kent State had just one error on its final day at the tournament.

"This isn't the result we wanted from a win-loss perspective, but we definitely had some bright spots," head coach Eric Oakley said. "The offense did well this weekend. Brenna [Brownfield] and Kait [Miller] continue to lead us. Madi [Huck] and Andrea [Scali] both threw some solid innings, and Grace [Saupe] was solid in relief these last two weekends. We still have a lot to work on before conference play, but there's great potential in this squad."

Game 1: Kent State 6, Howard 2
Multi-hit games from three of the first four batters in the lineup led the Golden Flashes to victory in the morning game.

Howard got on the board with a run in the top of the first, but Kent State answered in the bottom half of the inning. Sabrina Kerschner sent a single back up the middle to start the frame, moved to second on a sac bunt and then went to third on a single by Kaitlyn Miller. Kerschner scored on a sac fly from Brenna Brownfield. A dropped fly ball off the bat of Alexandria Whitmore that would have ended the inning allowed Miller to score.

Back-to-back doubles by Vanessa Vodan and Kerschner to start the bottom of the fourth made it 3-1. Kerschner came home following a sac bunt and error, and Brownfield plated Miller with a double for a 5-1 lead.

An error to start the top of the fifth led to an unearned run for the Bison.

The Flashes added a final run in the bottom of the sixth on consecutive hits from Miller, Brownfield and Madyson Cole.

Kerschner led the offense with three hits and scored twice. Miller and Brownfield added two hits apiece, with Miller scoring three times.

Andrea Scali (4-6) had eight strikeouts in her sixth complete game of the season. Scali allowed one earned run on three hits.

Game 2: Duke 3, Kent State 1
After falling behind 3-0 through two innings, the Golden Flashes' pitching staff allowed just one hit the rest of the game.

Kent State moved its first runner into scoring position in the top of the third after Olivia Sborlini bunted for a single and Kennadie Goth drew a walk with two outs in the frame. A third consecutive batter was unable to reach safely, and it remained 3-0.

The Flashes attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, which began with a double by Brenna Brownfield. After a groundout that kept pinch runner Brooklyn Whitt at second, Whitt advanced to third when Alexandria Whitmore slapped one through the right side. Madyson Cole was then retired on a chopper to the shortstop, but it allowed Whitt to cross home plate. The next batter popped up on the infield to end the game.

Kent State collected four hits in the game. Whitmore recorded the first multi-hit performance of her collegiate career.

Madi Huck (4-4) had two strikeouts and no walks while allowing three runs on six hits in four innings. Grace Saupe retired all six batters she faced in relief.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will be back in action next weekend as it travels to Norman, Oklahoma for five games as part of the OU Tournament hosted by Oklahoma from March 13-15.