Kent State University
12-28, 7-11
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Western Michigan
14-22, 8-9
Kent State Falls in Series Finale at WMU
4/22/2023 6:50:00 PM | Softball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kent State softball team was unable to complete its first Mid-American Conference softball series sweep on Saturday afternoon, falling 13-5 to Western Michigan in five innings.
The Golden Flashes (12-28, 7-11 MAC) led 5-4 in the middle of the third inning before the Broncos scored nine in a row to win via the run-rule.
Junior Emily Lippe, senior Julia Mazanec and redshirt senior Alexandria Whitmore led Kent State at the plate with two hits each. Lippe hit her 11th home run of the season and totaled three RBIs.
The teams combined for three home runs in the first two innings. Western Michigan got on the board first with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning. Lippe then tied it with a solo shot of her own in the top of the second. The Broncos went ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the second on a three-run homer.
Whitmore started a rally for the Flashes in the top of the third with a bunt single. Mazanec followed with a double. A passed ball allowed Whitmore to score, and Mazanec then stole home to get within 4-3. Sophomore Delaney Robeson followed with a single and an error extended the inning. Lippe gave Kent State a 5-4 lead with a single that scored a pair of runners.
Western Michigan answered with five runs in the bottom of the third and added one run in the fourth for a 10-5 lead.
It remained 10-5 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth when a hit batter put runners on the corners for the Broncos and brought the winning run to the plate. The next three batters hit singles to score runs and end the game.
Freshmen Macy Irelan (6-11) and Carley Penner each recorded one strikeout over 2.1 innings in the circle.
Kent State is scheduled to play two of its final three series at Devine Diamond, beginning with a 3 p.m. game against Buffalo on Tuesday, April 25. The teams will then play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BAJUSZ, Rissa (10-10)
L: Irelan, Macy (6-11)
Batting:
2B: Mazanec, Julia 1
HR: Lippe, Emily 1
RBI: Lippe, Emily 3
SH: Despines, Bri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Robeson, Delaney 1 ; Despines, Bri 1 ; Lippe, Emily 1
SB: Mazanec, Julia 1
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Batting:
2B: SMITH, Haleigh 1
3B: BRENDTKE, Cassidy 1
HR: KELLY, Payton 1 ; KRAMER, Alyssa 1
RBI: KELLY, Payton 3 ; KRAMER, Alyssa 3 ; SMITH, Haleigh 1 ; DUELL, Madison 1 ; BRENDTKE, Cassidy 3 ; YOUNG, Jessica 1 ; BOXWELL, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KELLY, Payton 2 ; KRAMER, Alyssa 1 ; CHUMBLEY, Riley 1 ; WOLFE, Taylor 1 ; SMITH, Haleigh 3 ; BRENDTKE, Cassidy 2 ; YOUNG, Jessica 1 ; HUDSON, Addison 2
SB: KELLY, Payton 1
HBP: CHUMBLEY, Riley 1
