Big First Innings Help Flashes Win Saturday Twinbill

Saturday, May 15

Kent, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

26-25, 22-15

Western Michigan

14-36, 10-26

Western Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: Sue Eckl

Big First Innings Help Flashes Win Saturday Twinbill

5/15/2021 8:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The Kent State softball team jumped out to large leads in the first inning of both games against Western Michigan on Saturday before recording a 9-0 win in five innings and a 9-5 victory.

The Golden Flashes (27-25, 23-15 MAC) had been held scoreless during their first trip to the plate in the previous five games but started the day with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning of the opener. Kent State topped that in the second game, plating five runs on six hits in the first.

Five players had multiple RBIs on the day, led by five from senior Alexis Taube. Senior Carlee Selle went 4-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, one home run and four RBIs. Juniors Megan Turner and Brooklyn Whitt drove in three runs each, while senior Kaitlyn Miller had two RBIs and scored a team-high four runs.

Freshman Jessica LeBeau threw a shutout in the first game and earned a save in the second game, totaling seven strikeouts over eight scoreless innings for the day.

Game 1: Kent State 9, Western Michigan 0 (5 innings)
Kent State plated four runs in the bottom of the first. After a fly out to left field and an error put a runner aboard, Kaitlyn Miller, Megan Turner and Alexis Taube all hit doubles to make it 3-0. Brooklyn Whitt followed with a single for the fourth straight hit, and Taube scored from second.

The Flashes took advantage of control issues in the circle and a wild throw to score three more in the second. Kennadie Goth's single was followed with Sabrina Kerschner being hit by a pitch and Miller drawing a walk to load the bases. The WMU shortstop attempted to get the force out at the plate on a hard grounder off the bat of Turner, but her throw glanced off Goth, who scored. Kerschner also scored on the play, as Miller and Turner both advanced into scoring position. Taube then added her second RBI of the game with a groundout to the shortstop, making it 7-0.

Carlee Selle put the game away with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

Jessica LeBeau (14-12) held the Broncos to two hits while striking out four batters and recording her fifth shutout of the season.

Game 2: Kent State 9, Western Michigan 5
The Golden Flashes sent nine batters to the plate while building a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Speedy Kennadie Goth started the frame with an infield single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a singled to center field by Kaitlyn Miller. Megan Turner lined a single to left field, and Alexis Taube cleared the bases with a three-run blast over the scoreboard. Brooklyn Whitt continued the onslaught with a bunt single before racing around the bases to score on a double by Carlee Selle.

Errors allowed Western Michigan to score unearned runs in the second and third innings to make it 5-2.

Back-to-back doubles by Whitt and Selle extended Kent State's lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third.

Goth started the bottom of the fourth with a double that one-hopped the left field wall. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Goth came home on a bouncer up the middle by Miller.

The Broncos got back in it with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth. Jessica LeBeau was brought into the game and kept WMU off the scoreboard over the final three innings for the save. LeBeau had three strikeouts and allowed three hits.

Kent State added two insurance runs in the sixth, as Whitt hit a single to center field with the bases loaded. The junior finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs. Selle went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Gabbie Sherman (10-11) was the winning pitcher, allowing two unearned runs with one strikeout over four innings.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will take on Western Michigan in the 2021 finale Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Diamond at Dix.