Kent State University
6-6
Drake
4-9
LeBeau Throws One-Hitter in Win over Drake
3/5/2022 9:20:00 PM | Softball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second day in a row, Kent State started the day at John Cropp Classic by defeating Drake before losing to a ranked opponent. Sophomore Jessica LeBeau threw her second shutout of the season in the Golden Flashes' 11-0 win over the Bulldogs, but a home run by fifth-year Madyson Cole in the second inning of the night cap was not enough to upset No. 10/13 Kentucky, and the host Wildcats won 9-1.
Kent State (6-7) had three of its 11 hits on the day go for extra bases, as Cole and freshman Savannah Wing each launched solo homers and senior Chloe Cruz doubled. Wing finished the day with three hits and freshman Jalynn Young had a team-high three RBIs.
Led by LeBeau, the Flashes' pitching staff allowed five earned runs and totaled eight strikeouts.
Game 1: Kent State 11, Drake 0 (5 innings)
Kent State broke a scoreless game open with six runs in the top of the third inning. An error and pair of walks loaded the bases. Jessica LeBeau then sent a grounder to the right side of the infielder that was mishandled by the second baseman, allowing the first two runs to score. Chloe Cruz followed with a single up the middle to make it 3-0. Madison Hershberger's line drive to left field was dropped, allowing LeBeau to score. Following a pitching change and strikeout for the second out of the frame, Jalynn Young sent a single up the middle that the second baseman was unable to keep in front of her and two more runs scored to make it 6-0.
Savannah Wing slugged her first home run as a Golden Flash, a solo shot to left field, in the top of the fourth.
The Flashes plated four more in the top of the fifth, as Young and Julia Mazanec picked up RBIs, and wild pitches allowed Hershberger and Alexandria Whitmore to score.
Jessica LeBeau (3-3) had five strikeouts and allowed just one hit, a double to lead off the bottom of the third inning.
Game 2: #10/13 Kentucky 9, Kent State 1 (6 innings)
Madyson Cole homered off the scoreboard beyond the left field fence to put Kent State ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning.
Kentucky tied it with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning and used a pair of bunts to bring in a run in the third for a 2-1 lead.
The Golden Flashes threatened in the top of the fourth, as Cole and Madison Hershberger started the frame with singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. Three consecutive strikeouts ended the inning though.
A pair of errors and a wild pitch helped the Wildcats score six runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 7-1 lead. Kentucky added one run in the fifth and sixth to bring the run-rule into play.
Cole and Savannah Wing led the offense with two hits apiece.
Andrea Scali (0-3) went three innings in the circle, finishing with three strikeouts and three earned runs. Anilese Kelly threw the final 2.1 innings in relief and allowed a pair of earned runs.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will visit Michigan for a three-game series in Ann Arbor next weekend. A doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, with a single game to follow on Sunday, March 13.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LeBeau, Jessica (3-3)
L: Mackenzie Hupke (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Cruz, Chloe 1
HR: Wing, Savannah 1
RBI: Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Wing, Savannah 1 ; Cruz, Chloe 1 ; Hershberger, Madison 1 ; Young, Jalynn 3
SF: Hershberger, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Wing, Savannah 2 ; LeBeau, Jessica 1 ; Cruz, Chloe 1 ; Ramer, Jade 1 ; Hershberger, Madison 2 ; Whitmore, Alexandria 2 ; Crittendon, Jada 1
Batting:
2B: Skylar Rigby 1
Base Running:
SB: Libby Ryan 2
CS: Libby Ryan 1
