Kent State University
Central Michigan
Flashes Visit CMU for Mid-Week MAC Series
3/27/2023 4:42:00 PM | Softball
Kent State softball hits the road again this week, traveling to Mt. Pleasant for a midweek series against Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan.
The series schedule has been adjusted due to weather forecasts, and the teams will now play a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 28 starting at 1 p.m. with the series finale at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.
All three games will be streamed on Chippewas All-Access.
About the Flashes
Kent State (8-17, 3-2 MAC) is coming off a series win against Akron over the weekend. After dropping the first game of Friday's doubleheader, the Flashes roared back with a 9-5 win in the nightcap, then scored two in the 7th for the come-from-behind win in the deciding game on Sunday.
Senior Julia Mazanec blasted her second home run of the season to lead off the 7th in the series finale, sending a shot to straightaway center to tie the game 3-3. After the Flashes got the bases loaded after a pair of walks and a single by sophomore Delaney Robeson, freshman Bri Despines stole home for the go-ahead run. Redshirt senior Anilese Kelly shut the door on the Zips, earning her first save of the season and giving the Flashes their first series win in conference play.
Despines leads Kent State in batting average (.352), hits (25), doubles (6) and on-base percentage (.452). Junior Emily Lippe has a team-best seven home runs and 18 RBIs.
Kelly (2-7) leads the pitching staff with 48 strikeouts over 73.1 innings and a 4.58 ERA. Freshman Macy Irelan (5-6) earned both wins in the Akron series and has recorded 33 strikeouts in a team-high 20 appearances.
Scouting Central Michigan
The Chippewas (10-16, 0-3 MAC) dropped their first series in conference play, conceding all three games against Ball State. Central Michigan leads the conference in home runs (22) and shutouts (4). The pitching staff combines for a 3.77 ERA, the fourth-best in the conference.
Abbey Tolmie has opened the year on a tear, slashing .426/.465/.544 with a MAC-best 38 hits. Tolmie leads the Chippewas with 19 runs and has racked up 49 total bases in 90 at bats. Kelsey Alexander has hit a team-high seven homers and has brought home 16 runs.
Grace Lehto (3-8) leads Central Michigan with 85 strikeouts in 65.1 innings. Madelyn Wallace (4-3) leads the pitching staff in wins and boasts a team-best 3.79 ERA.
Series History
Kent State is 50-51 all-time against Central Michigan. The Golden Flashes have won eight of the past nine meetings and have taken the past two series from the Chippewas.
On Deck
Kent State will continue their road trip with a three-game series against Robert Morris (April 1-2) before returning home to host Northern Illinois (April 7-8).
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
