Kent State University
Buffalo
Golden Flashes Welcome Bulls for Midweek Doubleheader
4/19/2021 1:13:00โฏPM | Softball
Kent State returns to Mid-American Conference action on Tuesday when Buffalo visits the Diamond at Dix for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Follow the Action
Both games will be streamed on BoxCast, with individual games links available on Kent State's schedule page. Game updates will also be posted on the @KentStSoftball Twitter account.
Last Time Out
Kent State (12-17, 8-7 MAC) beat Case Western Reserve, 5-4, on a walk-off RBI single by Madyson Cole in the bottom of the 11th inning on Sunday. Only one of the Golden Flashes' 13 hits went for extra bases. Kennadie Goth led the way with three hits and three runs scored. Sabrina Kerschner, Megan Turner and Brooklyn Whitt added two hits apiece. Turner drove in two runs.
Gabbie Sherman had her best outing in a Kent State uniform, striking out a career-high 11 batters and allowing just one earned run over 8.2 innings of relief to earn the victory. Sherman held the Spartans scoreless for the first 6.2 innings of her appearance and issued just one walk while facing 32 batters.
About the Flashes
Kent State ranks fourth in the conference with 4.79 runs per game and a .297 team batting average.
The outfield trio of senior Alexis Taube, junior Brooklyn Whitt and Kennadie Goth are the Flashes' top hitters on the season. Whitt has established herself as the starter in center field ranks in the top-five in the MAC in batting average (.447) and on-base percentage (.520). She leads Kent State with 19 runs scored, 38 hits, eight doubles and six stolen bases. Goth owns a .418 batting average out of the leadoff spot in the lineup and has hit .542 over the past seven games. Taube has a career-best .390 batting average while leading the Flashes with five home runs, 27 RBIs and a .649 slugging percentage.
Freshman Jessica LeBeau (8-8) has been the Flashes' top pitcher with 11 complete games, including three shutouts. LeBeau ranks fourth in the MAC in strikeouts per seven innings (8.74), total strikeouts (119) and wins (8) while ranking fifth in ERA (3.16).
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (9-24, 7-11 MAC) were swept by first-place Miami over the weekend and have lost five in a row overall. Buffalo hitters have struck out 245 times this season, which is 31 more times than any other team in the conference, and rank 10th with a .213 team batting average. Bulls pitchers rank 10th in the MAC in earned run average (5.89) and 11th in opponent batting average (.341).
Two-time All-MAC performer Anna Aguon leads UB once again at the plate with a .311 batting average and .556 slugging percentage. Aguon has five home runs, 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases overall and is hitting .423 against MAC pitching. Rachel Steffan has a team-high 13 stolen bases and .436 on-base percentage. Alexis Lucyshyn has increased her power numbers during league play and leads the Bulls with seven home runs and 21 RBIs. Ally Marcano (4-10) has been UB's top pitcher this season with 61 strikeouts and a 5.68 ERA over 72.2 innings. Lucyshyn (2-5) and Madelyn Hickingbottom (2-7) have also thrown more than 40 innings in the circle for the Bulls.
Series History
Kent State is 43-8 all-time against Buffalo but have not met on the diamond since 2018. The Golden Flashes have won 11 straight in the series and have outscored the Bulls 63-4 over the last seven games.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State's next scheduled games at the moment are a doubleheader at Buffalo on Wednesday, April 28, as this weekend's home series against Western Michigan has been postponed.
