Kent State University
Michigan
Softball Announces Changes to Series at No. 19/17 Michigan
3/9/2022 3:27:00โฏPM | Softball
Due to projected inclement weather this weekend, Kent State's series-opening doubleheader at No. 19/17 Michigan has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 10 at 4 p.m. First pitch for the series finale remains at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 13.
All three games of the series, which will be play at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field, will be streamed on BTN+.
Weekend Schedule
Thursday, March 11
4 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Game 1 (BTN+)
6:30 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย Game 2 (BTN+)
Sunday, March 13
1 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Game 3 (BTN+)
Last Time Out
Sophomore Jessica LeBeau threw nine scoreless innings and earned a pair of victories in the circle to help the Golden Flashes (6-7) split four games at the John Cropp Classic, hosted by the University of Kentucky. LeBeau threw the final four innings of Kent State's 8-3 win over Drake on Friday, allowing just two hits, and then tossed a one-hitter against the Bulldogs on Saturday for her second shutout of the season. The Flashes won that game in five innings, 11-0, but were unable to upset No. 19 Michigan (0-13) or host No. 10/13 Kentucky (1-9).
Freshmen Savannah Wing and Jalynn Young were the top run producers for the offense. Wing totaled four hits, three runs scored and four RBIs over the four games. She had a career-best three RBIs in Friday's game against Drake and blasted her first collegiate home run during Saturday's rematch. Young had a pair of hits and also drove in three runs on Saturday. Redshirt junior Alexandria Whitmore shared the team lead with three runs scored, and her heads-up play to avoid and tag attempt and scored Saturday against Drake grabbed the top spot on this week's @NCAASoftball Plays of the Week.
Flash Facts
Kent State's pitching staff has recorded a Mid-American Conference-best four shutouts and owns the second-lowest earned run average (3.01) in the conference. Sophomore Jessica LeBeau (3-3) has a 2.77 ERA and leads the Flashes in innings pitched (30.1), strikeouts (43) and opponent batting average (.198). Freshman Kylie Ringler (2-1) 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 start against Michigan last Friday. Ringler has a team-best 2.21 ERA and has 10 strikeouts over 12.2 innings. 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 2.33 ERA.
Freshman Savannah Wing is the only Flash to start every game this season and ranks in the top 10 in the MAC in batting average (.393) and on-base percentage (.500). Wing also leads Kent State with six RBIs, five runs scored and a .500 slugging percentage. Senior Brooklyn Whitt has reached base in her last 10 games and is hitting .300 on the season. Senior Chloe Cruz is tied for the MAC lead with two triples.
Scouting #19/17 Michigan
The Wolverines (13-6) split a pair of games against No. 10/13 Kentucky and posted three shutouts last weekend to finish 3-1 at the John Cropp Classic. Michigan has gone 4-5 against ranked opponents this season.
Led by All-Americans Alex Storako (10-0) and Meghan Beaubien (2-4), the pitching staff ranks eighth in the country in shutouts (8) and 16th in ERA (1.59). Storako owns a 0.75 ERA and has allowed multiple earned runs just once in 11 appearances and has 109 strikeouts in 65.1 innings. Beaubien has fanned 33 batters over 30.1 innings and has a 3.23 ERA.
North Carolina graduate transfer Kristina Burkhardt is hitting .484 and leads the country with 13 doubles. Burkhardt has a team-high 18 RBIs and is tied for the lead with six stolen bases. Hannah Carson is right behind with 17 RBIs and has hit three homers.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State is scheduled to begin the MAC season at preseason favorite Miami. The three-game series will be played Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 in Oxford.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
