Cruz’s Clutch Hit Gives Flashes Friday Afternoon Walk-off Win

Friday, May 14

Kent, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Kent State University

25-25, 21-15

Western Michigan

14-35, 10-25

Western Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: Sue Eckl

Cruz’s Clutch Hit Gives Flashes Friday Afternoon Walk-off Win

5/14/2021 7:43:00 PM | Softball

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KENT, Ohio – Junior Chloe Cruz hit the ball just out of the reach of the diving second baseman and junior Brooklyn Whitt avoided a tag attempt at the plate to give Kent State a walk-off 8-7 win in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday afternoon in the series opener against Western Michigan.

The Golden Flashes (25-25, 21-15 MAC) have five walk-off victories at the Diamond at Dix this year, and with the win, secured a top-four finish in the Mid-American Conference standings for the eighth straight season. No other program has a streak longer than two years.

Trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, Kent State capitalized on a dropped fly ball in tying the score. Whitt's sacrifice fly for the second out in the frame allowed sophomore Julia Mazanec to score and put the Flashes on the board. Senior Carlee Selle then crushed a three-run homer to center field to make it 4-4.

The Broncos went back ahead with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Kent State had an answer in the bottom half of the inning. Redshirt senior Olivia Sborlini was hit by the first pitch in the frame and moved to second on a bunt single by senior Kennadie Goth. Mazanec advanced them with a sacrifice bunt and senior Kaitlyn Miller jumped on the first pitch she saw for a double just inside of the right field line to tie it up. Junior Megan Turner singled up the middle, and Miller came home to give the Flashes their first lead of the game.

Western Michigan was able to plate the tying run in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single, sacrifice bunt and single.

Mazanec collected her second hit in the bottom of the seventh, but Kent State was unable to score, and the game went to extra innings.

The Broncos were retired in order in the top of the eighth. Following a fly out to start the bottom of the inning, Brooklyn Whitt used her speed to reach with a bunt single. Selle was issued a four-pitch walk to move Whitt into scoring position. After watching the first two pitches go past for called strikes, Chloe Cruz sent a low liner to the right side of the infield. WMU's second baseman made a diving attempt at the catch, but it rolled away after hitting the ground. Whitt made the heads-up read to round third base and avoided a tag attempt to score the winning run.

Gabbie Sherman (9-11) earned the victory, totaling three strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Morgan Bowers tossed 2.1 solid innings in relief, allowing two runs and striking out one.

Kent State and Western Michigan will continue the season-ending series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.