Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Devine Diamond Dedication Highlights Home Softball Series vs. WMU
4/28/2022 4:57:00 PM | Softball
A new era of Kent State softball will be celebrated this weekend when Western Michigan visits the Diamond at Dix for three games.
The Mid-American Conference series opens with a single game at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 29, followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 30. Between games of the doubleheader, the Golden Flashes will celebrate upcoming facility upgrades and the re-naming of its home field to the Devine Diamond. Fans are invited to join us in celebration of longtime Kent State Athletics ambassador and supporter Judy Devine and the continued impact her generosity will have on women's athletics and gender equity.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes (17-23, 8-12 MAC) defeated rival Akron, 5-2, on Tuesday to win the season series and earn a point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings. Super seniors Madyson Cole, Brenna Brownfield and Andrea Scali led the way in their final game against the Zips. Cole tied it at 1-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Brownfield gave Kent State its first lead with a pinch-hit grand slam in the sixth inning. Scali finished with six strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits in the complete game effort.
Flash Facts
Fifth-year Madyson Cole is enjoying a breakout season, leading Kent State in batting average (.325), on-base percentage (.400) and slugging percentage (.627) while slugging seven home runs and recording 18 RBIs. Sophomore Emily Lippe leads the Flashes with six doubles, nine home runs and 27 RBIs. Lippe has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the MAC in recent weeks, slugging .952 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs over the last 12 games. Freshman Savannah Wing is batting .283 and has a hit in five consecutive games. Wing seeks to become the first Flash to lead the team in hits (28) as a freshman since 2010.
Redshirt senior Andrea Scali (6-9) has thrown a team-high 97 innings and ranks sixth in the conference with a 3.03 ERA and eighth with 107 strikeouts. Sophomore Jessica LeBeau (5-10) is fourth in the MAC in strikeouts (123) and opponent batting average (.215) and seventh in ERA (3.16).
Scouting Western Michigan
The Broncos (17-29, 7-13 MAC) have lost five of six games after posting a series victory over Akron, being outscored 23-9 during this stretch. WMU has been shut out 11 times this season and ranks 11th in the MAC in scoring (2.89 runs per game) and batting average (.215).
Reily Galloway leads the lineup with a .268 batting average and .472 slugging percentage while ranking second on the team with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. Alyssa Kramer's eight homers and 25 RBIs are the most on the team.
Galloway (11-16) and Rissa Bajusz (6-10) have combined for more than 250 innings in the circle and lead a pitching staff with a 3.30 ERA that ranks third in the conference. Galloway ranks 13th in the country with 226 strikeouts and has a team-best 2.34 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a .192 average.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will visit Buffalo for three games on May 3-4 and return to the Diamond at Dix for the final regular season series against Bowling Green on May 7-8.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
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