Kent State University
Southeastern Louisiana
Kent State Softball Heads to Ole Miss Classic
2/29/2024 4:07:00 PM | Softball
The Kent State softball team will begin the month of March with five games this weekend at the Ole Miss Classic, which will mark the debut of a new stadium at the renovated Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 1
11:30 a.m. ET vs. Southeastern Louisiana
2 p.m. ET vs. UAB
Saturday, March 2
11:30 a.m. ET vs. UAB
4:30 p.m. ET vs. Ole Miss
Sunday, March 3
11 a.m. ET vs. Southeastern Louisiana
About the Golden Flashes
Kent State went 3-1 last weekend at UNCW and finished the tournament with three consecutive wins over Merrimack. The pitching staff allowed three runs or fewer in each game and held opponents to a .191 batting average. Bri Despines and Julia Mazanec collected hits in every game and four different batters launched a home run.
The Golden Flashes' bats have been hot early in the season and enter the weekend 15th in the country in batting average (.351) and 20th in on-base percentage (.432). Kent State ranks second in the Mid-American Conference with an average of 6.56 runs per game.
Sophomore Bri Despines has been the best hitter in the conference this season with a .533 batting average that ranks 20th nationally. Despines has collected a hit in every game and also leads the team in runs scored (10), on-base percentage (.588) and slugging percentage (.733).
Senior Emily Lippe and freshman Megan Claerhout have both reached base in all nine games. Lippe has a career-best .321 batting average and leads the Flashes with three home runs and 13 RBIs.
Graduate student Alexandria Whitmore, an All-MAC Second Team selection last season, is second on the team in hits (11), runs scored (8), multi-hit games (4) and stolen bases (3).
Sophomore Macy Irelan (2-1), the only member of the pitching staff with collegiate experience entering the season, has made eight appearances and ranks fourth in the MAC with a 1.64 ERA. Irelan has allowed more than two runs in just one appearance and has a team-high 22 strikeouts. Freshman Megan Nuechterlein (4-1) has earned the most victories and has 16 strikeouts over 20.0 innings in the circle.
Scouting the Opposition
Southeastern Louisiana
The Lions (12-3) rank in the top-25 nationally in batting average (.361) and stolen bases per game (2.13). Ka'Lyn Watson is ninth in the country with a .548 batting average and is one of three batters in the lineup hitting above .400 this season. Bailey Krolczyk provides power with an .833 slugging percentage, while Maria Detillier has a team-high 18 RBIs. Cera Blanchard (4-0) and Ellie DuBois (4-1) lead a pitching staff with six shutouts and a 1.71 ERA.
UAB
The Blazers (6-9) have gone 2-1 against MAC schools, splitting a pair with Northern Illinois and beating Central Michigan. The offense has been shut out five times and averaged just under six runs in the other 10 games. Bella Wiggins has a team-high .368 batting average and is the national leader with five triples. Lindsey Smith is hitting .342 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. Leigha Kirby (2-4) leads the pitching staff with 17 strikeouts and 34.1 innings pitched.
Ole Miss
The Rebels (11-3) have four players hitting .400 or better and rank 22nd in the country with a .335 team batting average. Jalia Lassiter, an all-region performer as a freshman in 2023, leads the way with a .43 average and eight stolen bases. Lexie Brady provides a power bat with five home runs and 17 RBIs. Makenna Kliethermes (5-1) leads the pitching staff with a 2.31 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
Series History vs. Opponents
Kent State is 0-2 all-time against this weekend's competition. The Golden Flashes lost to Ole Miss, 2-1, on a neutral field in 2005 and lost at Southeastern Louisiana, 7-5, in 2019.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play five games at the Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina, from March 8-10.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
