Kent State University
3-6
Northern Iowa
7-8
Long Ball Dooms Flashes in 5-4 Loss to UNI
3/7/2021 5:25:00 PM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Northern Iowa hit three home runs to beat Kent State, 5-4, on Sunday in the final game of the Easton T-Town Showdown for both teams.
Sophomore Gabbie Sherman got the start in the circle and had her best game as a Golden Flash, recording a career-high six strikeouts over 4.1 innings. After allowing a home run to the first batter of the game, she got the next three Panthers out. UNI's first three hitters reached to start the top of the second, but Sherman settled in and retired nine of the next 10 batters.
The Golden Flashes (3-5) were hitless through three innings, but that changed in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Brooklyn Whitt singled up the middle to start the frame, advanced on a groundout and came home to tie the game on a single by senior Kaitlyn Miller. A wild pitch allowed senior Madyson Cole, who reach on a fielder's choice, to move to second base. Senior Alexis Taube followed with a single through the right side, scoring Cole and giving Kent State a 2-1 lead.
A walk, fly out to center and a home run brought Sherman's day to a close as UNI went back ahead, 3-2.
Senior Carlee Selle delivered a clutch single to left in a pinch hitter appearance with two outs in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-3 lead. Pinch runner Jade Ramer and Miller, who collected her second hit of the game, scored on the hit. Freshman Emily Lippe continued the rally with her first collegiate hit and Taube advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the Flashes were unable to add insurance runs.
A leadoff walk to start the seventh was followed by Sammey Bunch's second home run of the game as UNI retook the lead.
Kent State put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to score.
Freshman Jessica LeBeau (2-3) was the Flashes' pitcher of record. LeBeau totaled six strikeouts and allowed two runs in 2.2 innings inside of the circle.
Kent State will play five games at the Mizzou Tournament on March 12-14. The field will include host Missouri, Drake and Iowa State.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: PACKARD, K. (5-2)
L: LeBeau, Jessica (2-3)
S: OLER, Erica (1)
Batting:
HR: BUNCH, Sammey 2 ; PARKS, Madison 1
RBI: BUNCH, Sammey 3 ; PARKS, Madison 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BUNCH, Sammey 2 ; SHAFFER, Kamryn 1 ; PARKS, Madison 2
SB: HOGAN, Taylor 1
PO: OWEN, Ellie 1
Batting:
RBI: Miller, Kaitlyn 1 ; Taube, Alexis 1 ; Selle, Carlee 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Ramer, Jade 1 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 1 ; Cole, Madyson 1
SB: Whitt, Brooklyn 1
HBP: Whitt, Brooklyn 1
