Kent State University
7-11, 4-1
Northern Illinois
6-13, 1-4
Kent State Wins Doubleheader to Open Series at NIU
3/26/2021 9:25:00 PM | Softball
DEKALB, Ill. – The Kent State softball team continued to score runs in bunches to win both games of a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on Friday. The Golden Flashes won the first game, 11-0, in five innings and took the nightcap by a score of 12-5.
Kent State (8-11, 5-1 MAC) has scored at least eight runs and totaled at least 10 hits in all six Mid-American Conference games this season. Junior Brooklyn Whitt led the way with four hits, three runs scored and five RBIs. Junior Megan Turner drove in three runs in both games and senior Alexis Taube added four RBIs.
Freshman Jessica LeBeau (5-5) and sophomore Gabbie Sherman (2-4) kept the Huskies from scoring through the first 10 innings of the day and allowed just nine hits.
Game 1: Kent State 11, Northern Illinois 0 (5 innings)
The Golden Flashes used big innings in the top of the third and top of the fifth to earn their second five-inning shutout victory in a row.
Brooklyn Whitt put Kent State on the board with an infield single that scored Julia Mazanec. After Brenna Brownfield reached on a fielder's choice that loaded the bases, Alexis Taube singled up the middle to bring in two runs. Megan Turner added a double to clear the bases and make it 5-0.
In the fifth, Taube brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to center field and Carlee Selle followed with a double to make it 7-0. Pinch runner Alexandria Whitmore was able to score on an error that would have ended the inning. The Flashes took advantage of the mistake with two-out RBI singles by Olivia Sborlini and Kristyn Eckl. Kennadie Goth then sent a shot down the first base line for a triple that allowed the final run to score.
Eight players combined for 11 hits in the game, with Sborlini, Taube and Whitt collecting a pair of hits each. Taube and Turner both had three RBIs.
Jessica LeBeau (5-5) had eight strikeouts and allowed just two hits in her third shutout of the season.
Game 2: Kent State 12, Northern Illinois 5
Brenna Brownfield homered to left field to lead off the top of the second inning.
Kent State extended its lead to 7-0 with two runs in each of the next three innings. The first three batters reached in the third, and Brooklyn Whitt plated two with a double. A single, error and sacrifice bunt put two Flashes in scoring position in the fourth inning. Jade Ramer came home on a wild pitch and Alexandria Whitmore scored on a sacrifice fly by Kristyn Eckl. With two outs in the fifth, Alexis Taube allowed Kaitlyn Miller to score on a double to left-center and then crossed the plate herself on a single by Carlee Selle.
Northern Illinois got on the board with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
The Flashes added five insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by Whitt and a three-run blast off the bat of Megan Turner.
The Huskies countered with their own three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Kent State had 12 hits in the contest. Whitt led the way with her fifth multi-hit effort in the past six games and a career-high four RBIs. Brownfield, Miller and Selle also had two hits.
Gabbie Sherman (2-4) had three strikeouts over 6.1 innings in the circle. Jessica LeBeau recorded the final two outs of the night and did not allow a hit.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will continue its four-game series at Northern Illinois on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LeBeau, Jessica (5-5)
L: NORRED (2-9)
Batting:
2B: Selle, Carlee 1 ; Turner, Megan 1 ; Sborlini, Olivia 1
3B: Goth, Kennadie 1
RBI: Goth, Kennadie 1 ; Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Taube, Alexis 3 ; Selle, Carlee 1 ; Turner, Megan 3 ; Sborlini, Olivia 1 ; Eckl, Kristyn 1
SH: Goth, Kennadie 1
SF: Taube, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Kaitlyn 2 ; Whitt, Brooklyn 2 ; Brownfield, Brenna 1 ; Taube, Alexis 1 ; Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Turner, Megan 1 ; Sborlini, Olivia 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 2
CS: Turner, Megan 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1
Batting:
2B: BARONE 1
Base Running:
HBP: WALINSKI 1
