Lippe Homers Twice on Opening Day at Elon

Thursday, February 8

Elon, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

0-1

Elon

1-0

Kent State

Elon

Photo by: Nate Manley

2/8/2024 7:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ELON, N.C. – Senior Emily Lippe hit two home runs and totaled five RBIs as Kent State dropped both games of a doubleheader (6-9, 7-8) to host Elon on Thursday afternoon to start the 2024 campaign at the Elon Softball Classic.

The Golden Flashes (0-2) outhit their host 24-15 with five batters collecting three hits each. All 11 who stepped to the plate contributed to the hit total and nine scored a run.

Both of Lippe's hits on the day soared over the outfield wall, and she is just the eighth player in program history to hit 25 career home runs.

Game 1: Elon 9, Kent State 6
After allowing a pair of two-out runs to score in the bottom of the first inning, Kent State threatened to score with two outs in the top of the second. With a runner on first, Savannah Wing collected the first hit of the season with a single and Delaney Robeson followed with a single, but a strong throw from the outfield was in time to record the third out at the plate.

The Golden Flashes answered a six-run frame for the Phoenix in the bottom of the third by pushing five runners across the plate in the top of the fourth. Emily Lippe hit a solo shot to lead it off. Brynn Libler reached on a four-pitch walk and moved to third on a double by Wing before coming home on a wild pitch. Carley Penner, Alexandria Whitmore and Bri Despines each drove in a run to get within 8-5.

Elon extended its lead with a solo homer in the fifth and the Flashes scored the final run of the opener on a sac fly by Lippe in the sixth.

Eight different Kent State players collected a hit, with Delaney Robeson, Whitmore and Wing recording two each.

Macy Irelan allowed just one earned run over 3.2 innings after entering in the third. Ella Esterby (0-1) went 2.1 innings in the circle in her collegiate debut.

Game 2: Elon 8, Kent State 7
Emily Lippe launched a three-run homer in the top of the first inning, scoring Alexandria Whitmore and Carley Penner, who started the game with back-to-back singles.

Kent State extended it to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, which started with a single by Bri Despines. After moving to third on a single and fly ball to right field, Despines was driven in by Kenzie Bromley's single.

Elon plated three in the third and five in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead.

The Golden Flashes got a pair of two-out hits and threatened to retake the lead in the top of the sixth. Penner brought in one run with a single and Despines followed with a two-run single. Lippe was then intentionally walked to load the bases, but the two-out rally came to an end.

An error and single by Megan Claerhout put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the top of the seventh before the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Megan Nuechterlein (0-1) recorded four strikeouts and tossed four solid innings in her collegiate debut before getting in trouble in the fifth. Ella Esterby threw two scoreless innings in relief and had her first two strikeouts in a Kent State uniform.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will be back in action for two games on Friday. First pitch against Evansville is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the Flashes will finish the day against App State at 5 p.m.

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