Kent State University
Akron
Flashes to Host Wagon Wheel Challenge Doubleheader on Wednesday
5/11/2021 12:51:00 PM | Softball
Kent State will close the 2021 season with six home games at the Diamon at Dix, beginning Wednesday against rival Akron. The Golden Flashes and Zips are scheduled to play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Kent State needs to win one game to secure a full point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings following a doubleheader sweep in Akron last week.
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.
Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge
The Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Prior to the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include NCAA varsity sports sponsored by both schools, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. The school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for each academic year is presented with an overall series trophy.
Although the challenge has seen many iterations due to Akron's ever-changing sport sponsorship, the 2020-21 version includes 14 sports. Kent State clinched this year's challenge on Monday when the baseball team earned an 8-3 victory to secure a full point in the standing, which the Golden Flashes now lead 7.5-6.0.
Kent State was victorious in the first four years of the challenge. After a hiatus in 2015-16, the momentum has swung in favor of Akron. The Golden Flashes were in great position to end a three-year drought in 2019-20 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling all of the spring sports.
Last Time Out
Kent State (22-25, 18-15 MAC) lost four close games at first-place Miami over the weekend. The Golden Flashes were outscored 19-8 and received solid pitching performances from Jessica LeBeau, Gabbie Sherman and Morgan Bowers. The trio held the RedHawks 45 points below their season batting average and below their season scoring average in all four games.
Kaitlyn Miller had multiple hits in all four games and went 9-for-14 overall in the series. Kennadie Goth added six hits. Brooklyn Whitt led Kent State with two runs scored and two RBIs. Kristyn Eckl reached safely in both of her plate appearances on a walk and a two-run single.
About the Flashes
Despite being without 2019 Pitcher of the Year Andrea Scali since opening day and only having 2019 Player of the Year Brenna Brownfield in the lineup for the first two league series, Kent State sits third in the MAC standings. The Golden Flashes rank fifth in the conference with a .283 team batting average and eighth in runs per game (4.11).
Senior Kennadie Goth and junior Brooklyn Whitt set the table at the top of the batting order for Kent State. Goth's team-best .391 batting average ranks fifth in the MAC and her 54 hits are tied for ninth. Whitt leads the Flashes in a .439 on-base percentage, 27 runs scored, eight doubles and eight stolen bases. Senior Kaitlyn Miller has collected a hit in 10 straight games and increased her batting average to .331 overall and a team-high .408 against MAC pitchers. Junior Megan Turner and senior Alexis Taube provide the Flashes with powerful bats. Turner is the team leader with seven home runs and 32 RBIs, while Taube has five home runs and 27 RBIs.
Freshman Jessica LeBeau (13-12) has been the Flashes' top pitcher with 16 complete games, including four shutouts. LeBeau ranks third in the MAC in strikeouts per seven innings (8.35), total strikeouts (190), innings pitched (159.1) and opponent batting average (.237) while ranking fourth in ERA (2.77), wins (13) Sophomore Gabbie Sherman (7-11) has been stellar in her past nine appearances, allowing just 16 earned runs over 51.1 innings for a 2.18 ERA. Sherman has recorded 29 strikeouts and walked 11 batters during these outings.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (8-40, 7-27 MAC) have lost six in a row after being outscored 35-6 over the weekend by Central. Akron averages 2.66 runs per game and is eighth in the MAC with a 4.71 team earned run average.
Molly McChesney leads the way with .268 batting average, 18 runs and 15 stolen bases. Laurel DeVoe swings a powerful bat and leads the Zips with six home runs and 23 RBIs. Lexie Petrof (2-8) has been Akron's top pitcher this season with a 2.99 ERA that ranks fifth in the MAC over 72.2 innings.
The Zips' coaching staff features several familiar faces to Kent State fans. Second-year head coach Meaggan Pettipiece was an assistant under Eric Oakley for three seasons prior to taking her current position, while assistant coach Janel Hayes (2014-17) and graduate assistant Hunter Brancifort (2016-19) were four-year letterwinners for the Golden Flashes.
Series History
Kent State is 82-47-1 all-time against Akron, including a doubleheader sweep (3-1, 1-0) last week in Akron. Head coach Eric Oakley is 11-3 against the Zips.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will host Western Michigan for four games this weekend to conclude the 2021 season.
