Kent State University
11-17, 8-7
Ball State
17-9, 11-0
Missed Opportunities Leave Door Open for Ball State to Win Saturday in Walk-Off Fashion
4/10/2021 6:18:00 PM | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Kent State was unable to deliver clutch hits on multiple occasions to break Saturday morning's game open, and host Ball State hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to escape with a 5-3 walk-off victory.
The Golden Flashes (11-17, 8-7 MAC) had 10 hits on the day but left at least two runners on base in each inning, totaling 15 in the game.
Freshman Jessica LeBeau (8-8) was the tough luck losing pitcher for the second day in a row. LeBeau held the Cardinals to four hits through the first five innings and Kent State held a 3-1 lead. She allowed hits to the first two batters in the sixth and seventh and was a strike away from victory when Haley Wynn sent a full count pitch over the fence in center field to lift Ball State to an 11-0 start to the Mid-American Conference season.
Kent State was able to find early success against starting pitcher Deborah Jones, who tossed a shutout in the first game of Friday's doubleheader less than 24 hours earlier. Following a groundout to start the game, junior Sabrina Kerschner singled to left field and then moved to second base on a passed ball. Junior Brooklyn Whitt then made it 1-0 with a double to score Kerschner.
Ball State tied it 1-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of the second.
Senior Alexis Taube put the Flashes back in the lead in the top of the fourth with a two-out single that brought home freshman Alex Fiske and Kerschner to make it 3-1.
A double and single to start the bottom of the sixth brought the Cardinals within 3-2. LeBeau got out of the inning with the lead but a double by the first batter in the bottom of the seventh put the pressure back on her. The next Ball State hitter placed a bunt where no Flash could make a play to put the winning run on base. LeBeau retired the next two batters and got two strikes on Wynn, who worked the count full before providing the walk-off hit.
Senior Kennadie Goth, Kerschner, Taube, junior Megan Turner and Whitt had two hits apiece. Kerschner and Whitt also drew walks to reach safely three times, and Kerschner scored two of the Flashes' three runs.
Rain postponed the second game of the scheduled doubleheader, and the teams will attempt to conclude the series Sunday at 10 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: JONES, Deborah (7-2)
L: LeBeau, Jessica (8-8)
Batting:
2B: Whitt, Brooklyn 1
RBI: Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Taube, Alexis 2
SH: Mazanec, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kerschner, Sabrina 2 ; Fiske , Alex 1
HBP: Eckl, Kristyn 1
Batting:
2B: DANIEL, Amaia 1 ; HENSLEY, Faith 1
HR: WYNN, Haley 1 ; HOGG, Janae 1
RBI: WYNN, Haley 3 ; DOMINIQUE, Haley 1 ; HOGG, Janae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WYNN, Haley 1 ; DANIEL, Amaia 1 ; HOGG, Janae 1 ; HENSLEY, Faith 1 ; JANIGA, Katie 1
SB: WYNN, Haley 1
CS: LIGACKI, Brooke 1
