Kent State University
Miami
Softball Sends Senior Class Out with Win
5/6/2023 8:35:00 PM | Softball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State softball team outslugged Miami for a 10-8 victory in the final game of the season as part of a doubleheader Saturday at Devine Diamond. The visiting RedHawks plated three in the top of the seventh inning of the first game for a 4-1 win.
The Golden Flashes (18-31, 13-14 MAC) finished the season strong with an 8-4 record over the final four Mid-American Conference series.
Senior Morgan Bowers, graduate student Jada Crittendon, graduate student Anilese Kelly and junior Jade Ramer played in a Kent State uniform for the final time and were honored after the games.
Game 1: Miami 4, Kent State 1
Anilese Kelly was terrific in the circle, limiting the MAC's highest scoring lineup to just one unearned on three hits over the first six innings. The RedHawks started the game with a walk and double, but Kelly struck out the next two batters before hitting a batter to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Miami to take a 1-0 lead.
Kent State tied it in the bottom of the fifth, which began with a double by Julia Mazanec. A single up the middle by Jade Ramer brought Mazanec home.
Both teams led off the sixth inning with singles but were unable to score.
After the first batter in the top of the seventh reached via error, Miami recorded three consecutive hits to go ahead 4-1.
Madison Hershberger and Ramer started the bottom of the seventh with singles and the Flashes loaded the bases with just one out, but the RedHawks were able to turn two on a grounder hit to the third baseman.
Kelly (5-13) totaled seven strikeouts and allowed two earned runs in a complete game effort.
Game 2: Kent State 10, Miami 8
A six-run fourth inning allowed the Golden Flashes to play from ahead and hold on for the victory.
The game was tied 4-4 entering the bottom of the fourth. A pair of walks and a wild pitch placed two runners in scoring position with one out and Delaney Robeson brought them both home with a single up the middle. Robeson moved to second on an error and scored on a single by Savannah Wing. Jalynn Young followed with a single to right field, scoring pinch runner Sydney Shammo to make it 8-4 and placing runners at the corners. Julia Mazanec collected a RBI and reached on a fielder's choice before moving to second on a bunt single by Carley Penner. Two wild pitches allowed Mazanec to score for a 10-4 lead.
Miami scored one run in the fifth and was shutout in the sixth as Kent State took a 10-5 lead into the seventh.
After an incredible double-play call on the field was overturned, the RedHawks launched a three-run homer to get within two. Freshman Macy Irelan remained composed and retired three of the next four batters, including two via strikeout, to finish out the win. Irelan fanned five batters over five innings to earn the victory.
The Flashes totaled 10 hits in the game. Penner led the way with a career-best 3-for-3 performance.
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