Offensive Onslaught Leads Kent State to 10-6 Victory

Sunday, March 10

Cullowhee, N.C.

10:00 a.m.

Kent State University

10-8

Western Carolina

2-11

Kent State

Western Carolina

Photo by: Doug Neeb

Offensive Onslaught Leads Kent State to 10-6 Victory

3/10/2024 1:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Kent State recorded a season-high 15 hits and matched the most runs this season on Sunday, finishing the Catamount Classic with a 10-6 victory over host Western Carolina.

The Golden Flashes (10-8) had five players collect multiple hits, with sophomore Bri Despines, graduate student Julia Mazanec and junior Savannah Wing providing three each. Despines totaled a career-high four RBIs. Sophomore Carley Penner and junior Delaney Robeson added two hits apiece.

After the Catamounts pushed five across the plate in the bottom of the second, Kent State's bats came alive and put up a crooked number in four straight innings.

The Flashes capitalized on an error to start the top of the third, scoring three runs with two outs. Despines drove in the first run with a single and came around to score on a home run by Wing.

Western Carolina added to its lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the third.

Another two-out single by Despines in the top of the fourth resulted in two runs to bring Kent State within 6-5.

The Flashes went ahead in the top of the fifth, which began with a single by Mazanec. After moving to second on a sac bunt, she scored on a single by Penner. A throwing error allowed Penner to go all the way to third and then score the go-ahead run on a single by Robeson.

Freshman Kenzie Bromley's two-run single in the top of the sixth made it a 9-6 game, and Despines launched a solo shot in the top of the seventh.

Freshman Megan Nuechterlein (8-3) shut out Western Carolina over the final 4.2 innings to earn her third victory of the weekend. Nuechterlein recorded three strikeouts and allowed four hits.

Kent State will play the 2024 home opener on Wednesday, March 13 against Youngstown State. First pitch at Devine Diamond is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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