Golden Flashes Rally to Beat Huskies in Extra Innings

Saturday, March 27

DeKalb, Ill.

2:00 p.m.

Kent State University

9-11, 6-1

Northern Illinois

6-15, 1-6

Kent State

Northern Illinois

Photo by: Sue Eckl

Golden Flashes Rally to Beat Huskies in Extra Innings

3/27/2021 7:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. – Kent State scored four runs in the top of the seventh to send it to extra innings before beating host Northern Illinois, 10-8, in nine innings and clinch the series victory on Friday afternoon.

The Golden Flashes (9-11, 6-1 MAC) earned their first win of the season when trailing after six innings with the help of home runs by sophomore Autumn Acord and senior Alexis Taube in the seventh and a two-run double off the bat of redshirt senior Olivia Sborlini in the ninth.

Freshman Jessica LeBeau (6-5) recorded half of her six strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.

The Huskies took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on two walks and two singles.

Kent State went ahead 2-1 in the top of the second on a RBI single by junior Megan Turner and sacrifice fly by Sborlini.

Following a pair of errors that extended the bottom of the second, Northern Illinois put together three straight hits to retake the lead, 4-2.

Pitching dominated the middle innings and it remained 4-2 heading into the sixth. Doubles by seniors Brenna Brownfield and Carlee Selle cut the deficit to one. Senior Madyson Cole entered as a pinch hitter and delivered with a single up the middle. The ball got away from the centerfielder, and Selle came around to tie it.

A grand slam in the bottom of the sixth gave Northern Illinois an 8-4 lead.

Autumn Acord started the seventh inning rally with her first collegiate home run in a pinch-hit appearance. Singles by junior Brooklyn Whitt and Brownfield set the stage for Alexis Taube, who launched a three-run blast over the wall in left field.

The Huskies went down in order in the bottom of the seventh and neither tram was able to plate a run in the eighth.

Following a strikeout to begin the top of the ninth, Taube singled to left field before being retired on a fielder's choice that allowed Selle to reach first base. Turner sent a shot up the middle to extend the inning. Olivia Sborlini then doubled to the warning track in center to score two runs.

Northern Illinois was able to get two singles in the bottom of the ninth but could not score.

LeBeau recorded six strikeouts and allowed just one earned run in five total innings in the circle. She started the game before being replaced one batter into the third inning and returned to throw the final three innings. Sophomore Morgan Bowers had two strikeouts in three scoreless innings, while sophomore Gabbie Sherman allowed four runs in one inning.

Kent State finished the game with 17 hits. Brownfield, Selle and Taube had three hits apiece.

The Flashes and Huskies will conclude their four-game series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.