Kent State University
9-14
Indiana
18-8
Kent State Drops Wild Contest at Indiana
3/30/2022 6:07:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Kent State softball team scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings and plated three in the top of the ninth, but host Indiana hit a pair of three-run homers in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off victory at Andy Mohr Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes (9-14) collected a season-best 11 hits, including six for extra bases, and scored 11 runs for the third time in the past four games. Sophomore Emily Lippe led the way with two doubles and seniors Chloe Cruz and Brooklyn Whitt added a pair of singles each.
Kent State got on the board in the top of the fourth, as junior Julia Mazanec started the frame with a single. Cruz picked up a RBI later in the inning on a groundout to second base. Indiana scored two unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning to lead 6-1.
Lippe hit a leadoff double in the fifth and pinch runner Jada Crittendon moved to third on a single by freshman Savannah Wing. An error allowed Crittendon to score and redshirt junior Alexandria Whitmore followed with a single to load the bases. The Flashes were only able to score one additional run in the frame, as Wing touched the plate on a groundout by sophomore Alex Fiske. The Hoosiers answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and led 8-3 after a scoreless sixth inning.
An error and pinch hit single by junior Morgan Bowers put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the seventh. Whitt followed with a single to get within 8-4, and Fiske loaded the bases with a single of her own. Another error followed, allowing Kent State to score two more runs. Cruz drove in a run with a single to right field, moving the tying run just 60 feet from the plate. After a pop-up for the second out, Lippe delivered a clutch double to right-center to tie the game.
Sophomore Jessica LeBeau sat down the Hoosiers in order in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings. Kent State was unable to score in the top of the eighth, and LeBeau worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the inning.
The Flashes took their first lead of the game in the ninth on back-to-back doubles by Cruz and fifth-year Madyson Cole. Freshman Jalynn Young added a two-run homer to extend the lead to 11-8.
After retiring the first batter in the bottom of the ninth, LeBeau allowed a single and a walk. She induced a ground ball for the second out and was one strike away from sealing the victory before Aaliyah Andrews tied the game with a wind-aided home run to centerfield. The wind continued to be a factor, helping Kinsey Mitchell's fly ball to left field drop for a double. Redshirt senior Andrea Scali entered to pitch for Kent State, and the righthander hit the first batter she faced before allowing Brianna Copeland to hit her third homer of the day.
LeBeau (3-7) totaled seven innings in the circle for the Flashes, finishing with four strikeouts and allowing eight runs. Redshirt junior Anilese Kelly had one strikeout and allowed two earned runs in 1.2 innings of relief action.
Kent State will return to Mid-American Conference action at Ball State this weekend as the spring break trip to Indiana comes to an end. A doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, April 1 and the series finale will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 2.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Copeland (6-4)
L: LeBeau, Jessica (3-7)
Batting:
2B: Hershberger, Madison 1 ; Cruz, Chloe 1 ; Cole, Madyson 1 ; Lippe, Emily 2
HR: Young, Jalynn 1
RBI: Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Fiske , Alex 1 ; Cruz, Chloe 2 ; Cole, Madyson 1 ; Lippe, Emily 1 ; Young, Jalynn 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitt, Brooklyn 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Hershberger, Madison 2 ; Cruz, Chloe 1 ; Cole, Madyson 1 ; Crittendon, Jada 1 ; Young, Jalynn 1 ; Wing, Savannah 1 ; Ramer, Jade 1 ; Whitmore, Alexandria 1
Batting:
2B: Bassett 2 ; Lorsung 1 ; Mitchell 1
HR: Bassett 1 ; Copeland 3 ; Andrews 1
RBI: Bassett 3 ; Copeland 5 ; Ford 1 ; Stone 1 ; Andrews 3
SH: Mitchell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bassett 3 ; Copeland 3 ; Meeks 1 ; Stone 1 ; Benson 1 ; Andrews 2 ; Mitchell 3
SB: Bassett 1 ; Hayes 1 ; Meeks 1 ; Benson 1 ; Andrews 2 ; Mitchell 1
CS: Minnick 1 ; Mitchell 1
HBP: Bassett 1 ; Minnick 2 ; Andrews 1
