Kent State Voted as 2021 MAC Softball Favorite
2/15/2021 3:12:00 PM | Softball
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kent State received seven first-place votes and was picked to win the 2021 Mid-American Conference softball regular season championship, as the league announced its preseason coaches poll on Monday afternoon. The regular season champion will receive the conference's automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
The Golden Flashes totaled 106 points in the poll. Miami (94 points) and Ball State (88) were picked to finish second and third, respectively, and received the remaining first-place votes.
Kent State's lineup is headlined by 2019 MAC Player of the Year Brenna Brownfield and 2019 MAC Pitcher of the Year Andrea Scali. Brownfield was having another standout campaign prior to the remainder of the 2020 season being canceled. The senior batted .429 with seven doubles, four home runs and 21 RBIs in 19 games. Two of her homers came against ranked teams (Georgia and Florida State). Scali posted a 4-6 record and 76 strikeouts over 54.1 innings in the circle. She had a 2.57 earned run average against unranked opponents.
Head coach Eric Oakley returns seven field position starters from last year's team that finished the shortened season at 9-10. Senior Kaitlyn Miller and junior Sabrina Kerschner both hit better than .340 and provide Kent State with one of the top middle infield duos in the conference. Outfielder Kennadie Goth enters her senior year as a .364 career hitter, which is the second-best in program history. Redshirt senior Olivia Sborlini, senior Carlee Selle and junior Megan Turner all started at least 11 games last season.
Kent State is scheduled to open the 2021 campaign at the Georgia Classic this weekend (Feb. 19-21).
2021 MAC Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Kent State – 106 (7)
2. Miami – 94 (2)
3. Ball State – 88 (1)
4. Ohio – 76
5. Central Michigan - 66
6. Northern Illinois - 60
7. Toledo – 51
8. Bowling Green – 50
9. Western Michigan – 36
10. Buffalo – 19
11. Akron – 13
