Kent State University
7-3
Southeastern Louisiana
12-4
Whitmore Delivers Winning Hit as Flashes Split Friday Pair at Ole Miss Classic
3/1/2024 6:35:00 PM | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – Kent State rallied in the top of the seventh to beat Southeastern Louisiana, 5-4, and then lost to UAB, 6-1, as action at the Ole Miss Classic began on Friday.
The Golden Flashes (7-4) were led at the plate by graduate students Julia Mazanec and Alexandria Whitmore and junior Savannah Wing, who collected three hits each. Wing and senior Emily Lippe both hit a pair of doubles to account for four of the team's six extra-base hits.
Game 1: Kent State 5, Southeastern Louisiana 4
Alexandria Whitmore's two-run single in the top of the seventh brought in the go-ahead score. Macy Irelan re-entered in the bottom of the half and held the Lions scoreless to earn her second save of the season and give Kent State its first win of the season when trailing after six innings.
The Golden Flashes started the scoring in the top of the second inning on a two-run homer by Kenzie Bromley, her second of the season.
Kent State extended it to 3-0 in the top of the third. Julia Mazanec and Alexandria Whitmore started the frame with singles, and Mazanec scored on a sac fly by Bri Despines.
Aided by a trio of errors, Southeastern Louisiana scored twice in the bottom of the fourth and then took a 4-3 lead with two more runs in the sixth.
Down to the final two outs, Delaney Robeson drew a walk and moved to third on a double by Mazanec. Whitmore followed with a single up the middle to bring them both home.
Megan Nuechterlein (5-1) earned the victory and tossed one inning in relief. Irelan started the game and totaled four strikeouts over five innings.
Game 2: UAB 6, Kent State 1
Kent State fell behind 4-0, as UAB scored two runs in the top of the third and fourth innings.
Back-to-back doubles by Emily Lippe and Savannah Wing put the Golden Flashes on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Wing moved to third on a wild pitch but was unable to be brought home.
The Blazers added two more runs in the sixth inning.
Kent State was held to a season-low five hits. Wing led the way with two doubles.
Megan Nuechterlein (5-2) recorded three strikeouts and allowed two earned runs on six hits over 3.2 innings in a starting assignment.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will have an opportunity to avenge the loss on Saturday in an 11:30 a.m. ET rematch against UAB. The Golden Flashes will then challenge host Ole Miss at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nuechterlein, Megan (5-1)
L: DuBois, E. (4-2)
S: Irelan, Macy (2)
Batting:
2B: Lippe, Emily 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1
HR: Bromley, Kenzie 1
RBI: Whitmore, Alexandria 2 ; Despines, Bri 1 ; Bromley, Kenzie 2
SF: Despines, Bri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wing, Savannah 1 ; Bromley, Kenzie 1 ; Robeson, Delaney 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 2
SB: Whitmore, Alexandria 1
CS: Whitmore, Alexandria 1
Batting:
RBI: Watson, K. 1 ; Watson, M. 1 ; Goodman, C. 1
SH: Greely, A. 1
SF: Watson, K. 1 ; Watson, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Detillier, M 1 ; Krolczyk, B. 1 ; Kivett, F. 1 ; Kulivan, C. 1
SB: Greely, A. 2
HBP: Kulivan, C. 1
