Kent State University
3-3
UMBC
2-2
Despines’ Bat Leads Flashes in Saturday Softball Action
2/24/2024 8:48:00 PM | Softball
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Sophomore Bri Despines recorded a pair of three-hit games as the Kent State softball team returned to action at Boseman Field on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes (4-3) dropped the first game of the day to UMBC, 2-1, and then defeated Merrimack by a score of 8-3.
Despines extended her hitting streak to seven by going 3-for-4 in both games. She hit two doubles and one home run while driving in two runs.
Game 1: UMBC 2, Kent State 1
Macy Irelan (1-1) retired the first eight batters she faced and had a no-hitter through 3.2 innings before allowing a RBI single with two outs in the fourth. Irelan allowed just one more hit and an unearned run over the next two innings. She recorded three strikeouts in her first complete game effort of the season.
Down to the final out in the top of the seventh, Bri Despines hit a double to bring home Julia Mazanec and make it a 2-1 game. Kent State was unable to collect another two-out hit and Despines was stranded on second.
Game 2: Kent State 8, Merrimack 3
Two extra-base hits by Bri Despines helped Kent State take a 3-0 lead. Despines launched her first home run of the season in the top of the first and followed with a double in the top of the third, moving Alexandria Whitmore to third base. Both then scored on a sac fly.
Kenzie Bromley made it 4-0 with a homer to lead off the top of the fourth.
After Merrimack plated three in the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Flashes added one in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Savannah Wing hit the first triple of her career and scored on a single by Megan Claerhout.
Wing, Delaney Robeson and Bromley each drove in a run in the top of the seventh to make it 8-3.
Megan Nuechterlein (3-1) recorded a career-high six strikeouts and allowed three runs over four innings to earn the victory. Macy Irelan received the save, striking out four over three scoreless innings.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will conclude the weekend on Sunday with two more games against Merrimack. First pitch is scheduled for 8 a.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Frisvold (1-1)
L: Irelan, Macy (1-1)
S: Matter (1)
Batting:
2B: Despines, Bri 1 ; Robeson, Delaney 1
RBI: Despines, Bri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mazanec, Julia 1
Batting:
RBI: Behel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lundy 1 ; DellaGuardia 1
