Kent State University
14-18, 10-8
Bowling Green
18-19, 10-12
LeBeau and Sherman Blank Falcons in Friday Doubleheader Sweep
4/23/2021 8:16:00 PM | Softball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Freshman Jessica LeBeau and sophomore Gabbie Sherman each tossed a shutout to lead Kent State to a doubleheader sweep of Bowling Green on Friday afternoon. The Golden Flashes opened the day with a 3-0 victory and followed by winning 4-0 in the nightcap.
Kent State (15-18, 11-8 MAC) has shut out the Falcons in 13 of the last 20 games in the series between the programs.
In addition to keeping Bowling Green off the scoreboard, LeBeau and Sherman held their hosts to a .184 batting average and combined for 14 strikeouts. LeBeau notched her fourth shutout of the season, while it was Sherman's first as a Flash.
Junior Megan Turner continued to swing a hot bat, hitting a home run and a double while driving in four runs. Senior Kennadie Goth and freshman Emily Lippe shared the team lead with three hits.
Game 1: Kent State 3, Bowling Green 0
Jessica LeBeau (9-9) outdueled Payton Gottshall in pitching matchup between two of the Mid-American Conference's top freshmen, striking out 10 batters and allowing just two hits in the shutout performance.
Emily Lippe's double off the top of the wall to start the top of the fifth led to the first run of the game. Pinch runner Alex Fiske moved to third on a fly ball to right-center and then scored on a groundout by Julia Mazanec to make it 1-0.
Kent State added to the lead with a pair of timely hits in the sixth. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Brooklyn Whitt singled up the middle. Megan Turner followed with a home run over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead.
Alexis Taube led the offense with two hits .
Game 2: Kent State 4, Bowling Green 0
The Golden Flashes plated three runs in the top of the first inning. Kennadie Goth singled to third and Brooklyn Whitt reached on an error to start the game. Megan Turner brought both in to score on a liner that rolled to the wall in right-center. Emily Lippe added a single through the left side that brought Turner home.
That was all the scoring needed by starting pitcher Gabbie Sherman (5-7), who threw her first collegiate shutout. Sherman scattered seven hits over seven innings and had four strikeouts without issuing a walk. The sophomore has allowed just one earned run in 22.2 innings over the past six days.
Kent State took advantage of a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 4-0. Pinch runner Alex Fiske advanced to third base on a sac bunt and groundout to the right side. Kennadie Goth followed with a RBI single. Goth reached in all four trips to the plate with three singles and a walk.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State and Bowling Green will conclude the series with doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sherman, Gabbie (5-7)
L: DAVIES, Hannah (4-3)
Batting:
2B: Turner, Megan 1
RBI: Goth, Kennadie 1 ; Turner, Megan 2 ; Lippe, Emily 1
SH: Mazanec, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Taube, Alexis 1 ; Turner, Megan 1 ; Fiske , Alex 1
SB: Goth, Kennadie 1
Batting:
2B: SORGI, Nikki 1
SH: EVERETT, Logan 1
Base Running:
SB: McNULTY, Marlie 1
HBP: SORGI, Nikki 1
