Kent State University
10-12, 7-2
Ohio
9-9, 5-4
Super Seniors Lead Flashes to Victory in Series Opener with Bobcats
4/2/2021 7:33:00 PM | Softball
KENT, Ohio – Fifth-year student-athletes Kristyn Eckl and Olivia Sborlini drove in all of Kent State's runs and freshman Jessica LeBeau did not allow a run over the final six innings of a 3-1 win against Ohio on Friday afternoon at the Diamond at Dix.
After striking out the first two batters of the day, LeBeau allowed back-to-back doubles to the right-center gap that put the Bobcats ahead 1-0.
The Golden Flashes (10-12, 7-2 MAC) were unable to get a hit off Ohio starting pitcher Mackensie Kohl the first time through the lineup, but adjustments were made the next trip to the plate, beginning with senior Kennadie Goth's bloop single over the shortstop with two outs in the bottom of the third.
In the fourth, senior Carlee Selle and junior Brooklyn Whitt singled up the middle. Following a fielder's choice in which pinch runner Jade Ramer was retired at third base for the second out of the frame, Kristyn Eckl sent a dribbler up the middle that got past the diving second baseman and allowed Whitt to score and tie the game.
Whitt reached safely for the third time with an infield single to put a runner aboard with one out in the sixth. She advanced to second on a walk drawn by senior Kaitlyn Miller, and both moved into scoring position on a groundout by Eckl. Olivia Sborlini then delivered her second game-winning hit in the past three games with a single up the middle that allowed Whitt and Miller to score.
Pitching with the lead for the first time, LeBeau (7-6) struck out the first two batters in the seventh inning and got the next batter to weakly pop the ball into foul territory for the final out. She finished with nine strikeouts.
Kent State will be back in action on Saturday for a doubleheader against Ohio. First pitch from the Diamond at Dix is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LeBeau, Jessica (7-6)
L: Kohl, Makenzie (5-3)
Batting:
2B: Vaughn, Mikenzie 1 ; Yun, Katie 1 ; Spacek, Caroline 1
RBI: Yun, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vaughn, Mikenzie 1
Batting:
RBI: Eckl, Kristyn 1 ; Sborlini, Olivia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitt, Brooklyn 2 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 1
