Kent State University
Longwood
No. 16 Georgia Rallies to Spoil Opening Weekend Finale for Flashes
2/21/2021 8:22:00 PM | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – Freshman Jessica LeBeau showed that she could be the next in a long line of great Kent State softball pitchers, striking out five in two innings for the save in a 9-7 win over Longwood and then allowing just one hit through the first 5.2 innings in a 4-1 loss to No. 16 Georgia as opening weekend at the Georgia Classic concluded on Sunday.
After allowing a home run to the second batter she faced on Saturday, LeBeau (1-1) tossed 11 scoreless innings and was four outs from leading the Golden Flashes (2-2) to their first top-25 win since 2019. The Bulldogs' batters were able to adjust the third time through the lineup and tallied four hits with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to avoid the upset.
At the plate, Kent State collected 17 hits. Junior Brooklyn Whitt led the way with three hits and seniors Kennadie Goth and Kaitlyn Miller recorded a hit in both games. Goth hit safely in all four games during opening weekend.
Game 1: Kent State 9, Longwood 7
Kent State got contributions throughout the lineup and scored nine runs on 11 hits in the first two innings.
Senior Kennadie Goth got it started with a single. Goth advanced to second on a single by senior Kaitlyn Miller and scored when senior Brenna Brownfield doubled down the left field line. Senior Carlee Selle followed with a single up the middle to bring Miller home. Redshirt senior Olivia Sborlini drove in the final run of the inning with a single.
Three walks and a single in the bottom of the first allowed Longwood to get within 3-2.
The Golden Flashes delivered five hits with two outs in the top of the second to push the lead to 9-2. Brownfield, Selle and junior Megan Turner each brought in a run with singles. Sborlini then doubled to plate Selle and came around to score, along with Turner, on a double by sophomore Autumn Acord.
The Lancers struck for solo runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 9-5. A double and single to start the sixth scored another run and prompted freshman Jessica LeBeau to enter the circle for her first collegiate relief appearance. The first batter LeBeau faced hit a triple to bring the tying run to the plate, but she was unfazed and induced a ground ball to third followed by two strikeouts to end the threat.
LeBeau struck out the first batter in the bottom of the seventh but an error allowed the second batter to reach. Another strikeout was followed by a walk and the winning run stepped to the plate. The freshman needed only three pitches to record her fifth strikeout of the game and earn her first career save.
Sophomore Morgan Bowers (1-1) threw four innings and was victorious in her first start inside the circle. Bowers had three strikeouts and allowed three earned runs on three hits. Sophomore Gabbie Sherman made her season debut in relief and allowed two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in one inning.
Junior Brooklyn Whitt collected a career-high three hits to lead the offense, while Brownfield, Selle and Sborlini added two hits apiece.
Game 2: #16 Georgia 4, Kent State 1
The game was scoreless through four innings with each team only managing a single hit. Senior Alexis Taube started the top of the fifth with a single to right field. Following back-to-back strikeouts, Taube moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and then came around to score the first run of the game after the Georgia shortstop committed an error on a ball off the bat of junior Sabrina Kerschner.
Jessica LeBeau (1-1) retired the side in the bottom of the fifth, as well as the first two batters in the sixth. LeBeau was a strike away from ending the frame when Mackenzie Puckett struck a 3-2 pitch to left field for a double. The next batter walked, and three consecutive hits followed to give the hosts a 4-1 lead.
Taube led off the top of the seventh with a single but remained at first base as the next three batters were retired.
LeBeau finished with three strikeouts while allowing four runs on five hits in six innings in the circle.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State is scheduled to return to action March 5-7 with five games in the Easton T-Town Showdown March 5-7. The tournament field will include host Alabama, South Alabama, and UNI.
