Kent State University
Akron
Softball Hits the Road Wednesday for Rivalry Doubleheader
5/4/2021 11:27:00โฏAM | Softball
Kent State will continue mid-week softball action with a doubleheader at rival Akron beginning at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The teams will meet again in Kent for a doubleheader next Wednesday, with the winner of the series earning a point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
Follow the Action
Both will be streamed on Zips Digital Network. 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 school, 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. The schools are currently tied 5.0-5.0 following Kent State earning a point by winning its 22nd consecutive MAC Women's Golf Championship on April 24.
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 (20-21, 16-11 MAC) earned its first Mid-American Conference series sweep this past weekend, outscoring visiting Central Michigan 18-9 over the four games.
Golden Flashes pitchers held the Chippewas to a .187 batting average for the series. Jessica LeBeauย had 16 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in her two complete games. Gabbie Sherman and Morgan Bowers also earned victories
Megan Turner led Kent State at the plate with a .636 batting average and four RBIs. Sabrina Kerschner was right behind with a .500 batting average and three RBIs. Kennadie Goth added five hits and scored a team-high five runs. Emily Lippe went 2-for-3 as a pinch hitter and drove in a pair of runs on her first collegiate homer in Saturday's first game.
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 fourth in the conference with a .289 team batting average and sixth in runs per game (4.41).
The outfield trio of seniorย Kennadie Goth, juniorย Brooklyn Whitt and senior Alexis Taube are the Flashes' top hitters on the season. Goth's team-best .398 batting average ranks fifth in the MAC and she shares the team lead with 47 hits. Whitt is seventh in the MAC in batting average (.388), tied for seventh in hits (47) and 10th in on-base percentage (.468). She leads Kent State with 25 runs scored, eight doubles and seven stolen bases. Taube has a career-best .346 batting average and is second on the team with five home runs and 27 RBIs and a .571 slugging percentage. Junior Megan Turner is the team leader with seven home runs and 32 RBIs.
Freshmanย Jessica LeBeauย (12-10) has been the Flashes' top pitcher with 16 complete games, including four shutouts. LeBeau ranks third in the MAC in strikeouts per seven innings (8.75) and total strikeouts (173) while ranking fourth in ERA (2.68), wins (12) and opponent batting average (.237). Sophomore Gabbie Sherman (7-9) has been stellar in her past seven appearances, allowing just 10 earned runs over 42.1 innings for a 1.65 ERA. Sherman has recorded 28 strikeouts and walked nine batters during these outings.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (8-34, 7-21 MAC) are playing their best softball of the season. Akron took three games from Western Michigan over the weekend to win its first conference series and has won four of the last five games overall. The Zips averages 2.76 runs per game and is eighth in the MAC with a 4.88 team earned run average.
Molly McChesney leads the way with .280 batting average, 26 hits, 17 runs and 15 stolen bases. Laurel DeVoe swings a powerful bat and leads the Zips with six home runs and 23 RBIs. Lexie Petrof (2-7) has been Akron's top pitcher this season with a 2.92 ERA over 62.1 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 78-47-1 all-time against Akron, including a doubleheader sweep (9-0, 6-4) in the most recent visit to Lee Jackson Field on April 20, 2019. Head coach Eric Oakley is 9-3 against the Zips.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will travel to first-place Miami for a four-game weekend series this weekend.
