Kent State University
Niagara
Golden Flashes Travel to Retriever Round Robin
2/17/2023 2:27:00 PM | Softball
The Kent State softball team returns to action at the Retriever Round Robin this weekend in Baltimore. Both of the Golden Flashes' opponents, Niagara and host UMBC, will be playing their first games of the season.
All games of the tournament will be streamed live, for free, on AmericaEast.TV.
Weekend Schedule
Saturday, February 18
12 pm. vs. Niagara
2:30 p.m. at UMBC
Sunday, February 19
10 a.m. vs. Niagara
3 p.m. at UMBC
About the Flashes
Redshirt freshman Abbie Wilfing led Kent State at the plate with a .385 batting average and five hits over opening weekend. Wilfing, who had a hit in four of five games, had a career-high three RBIs in the weekend finale against Villanova. Freshman Bri Despines posted a team-high .467 on-base percentage with four hits and three walks.
Redshirt senior Anilese Kelly led the pitching staff with six strikeouts and 14.1 innings. Freshmen Macy Irelan and Carley Penner made their collegiate debuts in the circle.
Scouting the Opposition
Niagara
The Purple Eagles were picked ninth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Poll. Niagara comes off 14-26 campaign in 2022 and is led at the plate by Samantha Hare and Maggie Kellner. Hare paced the Purple Eagles with four home runs, 25 RBIs and a .458 slugging percentage last year, while Kellner led the team with 38 hits and 15 doubles. Maggie Hickingbottom and Riley Crum will look to anchor the pitching staff.
UMBC
Three-time reigning America East Conference champion was picked to finish first in the league's preseason poll. The Retrievers are led by pitcher/outfielder Courtney Coppersmith, ranked #98 on the D1 Softball Top 100 Players List. The three-time America East Pitcher of the Year posted a 0.78 ERA in 2022, striking out 219 batters in 116 innings en route to 11 wins while also hitting .328 with four homers. Karly Keating will also help power the offense after leading the team in batting average (.342) and runs (21) a season ago.
Series History vs. Opponents
Kent State is undefeated all-time against this weekend's opponents. The Golden Flashes have never played Niagara and took care of UMBC, 11-3, in six innings in the only previous meeting on the diamond on March 27, 2018.
Trailing 1-0 and being held to one hit through three innings, Kent State took the lead on a three-run homer by Hunter Brancifort in the top of the fourth. The bats exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth to lead 9-1. UMBC got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but Holly Speers launched a two-run homer in the sixth to provide the winning runs.
On Deck
Kent State will travel to Charlotte for five games at the Queen City Classic on Feb. 24-26.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
