Kent State University
Purdue Fort Wayne
Flashes Head to Hoosier State for Spring Break Trip
3/28/2022 2:22:00 PM | Softball
The Kent State softball team will spend spring break by playing six games over five days in the state of the Indiana.
The trip begins on Tuesday, March 29 with an afternoon doubleheader at Purdue Fort Wayne. The Golden Flashes (7-13, 1-4 MAC) will then visit Indiana for a single game on Wednesday, March 30. Following a day of rest, Kent State will begin a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Ball State on Friday, April 1. A doubleheader against the Cardinals is scheduled to conclude the trip on Saturday, April 2.
Spring Break Schedule
Tuesday, March 29
3 p.m. Game 1 at Purdue Fort Wayne
5 p.m. Game 2 at Purdue Fort Wayne
Wednesday, March 30
1 p.m. at Indiana
Friday, April 1
1 p.m. Game 1 at Ball State (ESPN3)
Saturday, April 2
1 p.m. Game 2 at Ball State (ESPN3)
3:30 p.m. Game 3 at Ball State (ESPN3)
Last Time Out
Kent State split a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge doubleheader with rival Akron on Friday before the final game of the series was postponed due to inclement weather.
Senior Chloe Cruz tied the opening game with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Jaiden Bryant answered with a solo shot of her own in the seventh to give the Zips a 4-3 victory.
The Golden Flashes' offense came to life in the second game, plating multiple runs in each of the first four innings, en route to an 11-3 victory in five innings. Senior Brooklyn Whitt, junior Julia Mazanec, fifth-year Madyson Cole, sophomore Madison Hershberger and sophomore Emily Lippe recorded a pair of RBIs each in the win.
Hershberger led the way on the day, reaching safely in five of six plate appearances and hitting three doubles. Mazanec had a team-high three RBIs and hit her first collegiate homer.
Sophomore Jessica LeBeau was excellent in the opening game, striking out nine and allowing just one earned run in a complete game effort. Freshman Kylie Ringler earned her first MAC victory in Game 2, throwing 1.2 scoreless relief innings. Redshirt senior Andrea Scali totaled seven strikeouts over 3.1 innings and recorded a save.
Flash Facts
Pitching has been a strength for Kent State, as it ranks third in the MAC in opponent batting average (.242) and fourth in earned run average (3.28). Sophomore Jessica LeBeau (3-6) ranks third in the conference with a 2.51 ERA and 9.9 strikeouts per seven innings pitched. Redshirt senior Andrea Scali, the 2019 MAC Pitcher of the Year in her only full season of college softball, seeks her first victory since March 7, 2020, despite just a 3.14 ERA. Freshman Kylie Ringler (3-1) shutout LIU (1-0) in her first collegiate appearance on Feb. 12 and threw the fifth perfect game in program history against Howard (8-0) on Feb. 26 but was unable to get out of the first inning in her following start against Michigan on March 4.
Freshman Savannah Wing is the only Flash to start every game this season and leads the team in batting average (.310), runs scored (7), RBIs (7) and on-base percentage (.444). Senior Chloe Cruz also has seven RBIs and is tied for the MAC lead with two triples. Freshman Delaney Robeson is right behind with five RBIs and graduate student Madyson Cole has hit a team-high two home runs.
Scouting the Opponents
Purdue Fort Wayne
The Mastodons (4-19) have lost four in a row and were outscored by Green Bay, 26-10, in a three-game Horizon League series over the weekend. Purdue Fort Wayne is undefeated at home, however, taking both games of a doubleheader from UIC on March 10. Out of 293 Division I teams, the Mastodons rank 270th in scoring (2.52 runs per game), 287th in earned run average (7.80) and 293rd in fielding percentage (.920).
Brooke Wintlend and Sonia Solis lead the way at the plate. Wintlend is batting .293 with five home runs and 11 RBIs, while Solis is a .286 hitter with 12 RBIs. Lauren McConnell (1-3) leads the pitching staff with a 4.53 ERA.
Indiana
The Hoosiers (17-8) went 1-2 at Ohio State to open Big Ten play over the weekend. Indiana is 4-0 at home this season and beat Mid-American Conference members Central Michigan (6-5) and Ohio (7-5) on March 11.
Offensively, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in batting average (.310) and stolen bases per game (2.40) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.523). Cora Bassett, a Purdue transfer, ranks in the top-five of the Big Ten in batting average (.423), on-base percentage (.495), slugging percentage (.897), runs scored (32), doubles (10) and home runs (9) and has 19 RBIs to share the team lead with Brooke Benson and Brittany Ford. Tatum Hayes is one of the most dangerous pinch runners in the country and leads the Big Ten with 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
Indiana's 4.29 ERA is the second highest in the Big Ten. Macy Montgomery (7-2) leads the team with 46 strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA, while Heather Johnson (5-2) has thrown a team-high 58.0 innings.
Ball State
The Cardinals (7-18, 0-2 MAC) will open its home schedule after suffering a pair of walk-off losses at Central Michigan to start conference play over the weekend. Ball State defeated No. 18 Missouri, 4-3, in its non-conference finale on March 20.
Faith Hensley ranks second in the MAC in home runs (9), third in batting average (.403), on-base percentage (.527) and slugging percentage (.792) and fourth in runs scored (18) and RBIs (19). Haley Wynn, McKayla Timmons and Jazmyne Armendariz have hit three home runs apiece.
Angelina Russo (4-6) has thrown a team-high 62.2 innings pitched and Deborah Jones (1-4) leads the staff with 41 strikeouts.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will begin midweek #MACtion by hosting Central Michigan for a three-game series on Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 6.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
