Lippe’s Home Run Lifts Flashes to Extra Innings Victory

Friday, April 15

DeKalb, Ill.

4:00 p.m.

Kent State University

13-19, 3-9

Northern Illinois

10-20, 4-11

Kent State

Northern Illinois

Photo by: David Dermer

Lippe’s Home Run Lifts Flashes to Extra Innings Victory

4/15/2022 7:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Emily Lippe belted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to give Kent State a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference series opener on Friday afternoon.

The Golden Flashes (13-19, 4-8 MAC) totaled 10 hits in the game, with senior Chloe Cruz, sophomore Madison Hershberger and freshman Savannah Wing recording multi-hit performances.

Kent State took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, which began with a single by Wing. Junior Julia Mazanec moved her into scoring position and Cruz followed with a single. An error by the Huskies centerfielder allowed Wing to round third and cross the plate.

Northern Illinois tied it in the sixth with leadoff double, sac bunt and sac fly.

Neither team was able to score in the seventh or eighth, but senior Brooklyn Whitt got the ninth started with a single to center field. A successful sac bunt by sophomore Jade Ramer moved Whitt to second, but it appeared the hosts might get out of the inning after a ground ball for the second out. Lippe then stepped to the plate and homered to straightaway center for a 3-1 lead.

Redshirt senior Andrea Scali (4-7) pitched the first seven innings, striking out six and allowing just one run. Sophomore Jessica LeBeau entered to start the eighth and walked the first batter before retiring the next three to earn her second save of the season.

Kent State will seek its second straight conference series victory on Saturday when it takes on Northern Illinois in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. ET.