Kent State University
1-2
Evansville
0-2
Softball Goes 2-0 Friday at Elon Softball Classic
2/9/2024 9:35:00 PM | Softball
ELON, N.C. – The Kent State softball team earned its first two victories under first-year head coach Jessica O'Donnell on Friday, defeating Evansville, 10-1, and App State, 9-5 as opening weekend action continued at the Elon Softball Classic.
The Golden Flashes (2-2) have collected double-digit hits in all four games this season and had seven players with multiple hits on Friday. Graduate student Alexandria Whitmore led the way with five hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Senior Emily Lippe, graduate student Julia Mazanec and junior Savannah Wing shared the lead with three RBIs each on the day.
Game 1: Kent State 10, Evansville 1 (6 innings)
Kent State used a pair of five-run frames to earn the first win of the season in run-rule fashion.
Trailing 1-0 at the end of the first inning, the Golden Flashes responded in the top of the second. Julia Mazanec hit a three-run homer to take the lead. After the second out of the inning was recorded, three straight batters reached and two of them then scored on a single by Savannah Wing.
Miscues by the Purple Aces helped Kent State score two runs and load the bases for the second time with just one out in the sixth. Emily Lippe made it a 9-1 game with a two-run single and Wing followed with a single through the ride side to bring in the final run.
Macy Irelan (1-0) earned the victory and had three strikeouts over four innings in her first start of the season. Megan Nuechterlein recorded two strikeouts in two scoreless relief innings.
Game 2: Kent State 9, App State 3
All nine batters stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first as Kent State jumped out to a 4-0 lead. A pair of singles and a fielder's choice placed runners on the corners. Emily Lippe then brought in the first run with a single. A walk and hit batter made it 2-0. Delaney Robeson followed with a double to plate two more runners.
App State took advantage of an error to score a run in the top of the second.
The Golden Flashes got that run back in the bottom half. Alexandria Whitmore started the frame with a single and then stole second before scoring on a double by Bri Despines.
The Mountaineers cut their deficit in half with a two-run homer in the top of the third, making it 5-3.
Kent State scored three in the bottom of the fifth and had the winning run in scoring position with just one out, but App State was able to escape the jam and prolong the game.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Mountaineers plated two in the top of the seventh.
Megan Nuechterlein (1-1) earned her first career victory and allowed two runs on three hits over 3.2 innings of relief action.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State is scheduled to conclude opening weekend with a 9:30 a.m. matchup against Evansville on Saturday.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Irelan, Macy (1-0)
L: Jolly (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Mazanec, Julia 1
RBI: Lippe, Emily 2 ; Wing, Savannah 3 ; Mazanec, Julia 3
SH: Bromley, Kenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Penner, Carley 2 ; Despines, Bri 2 ; Libler, Brynn 1 ; Claerhout, Megan 1 ; Shammo, Sydney 1 ; Bromley, Kenzie 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1
SB: Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Penner, Carley 1
CS: Whitmore, Alexandria 1
HBP: Libler, Brynn 1 ; Claerhout, Megan 1
Batting:
RBI: Wood 1
SH: Frossard 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Davis 1
SB: Davis 1
CS: Wood 1
