Kent State Beats YSU in Softball Home Opener, 2-1

Wednesday, March 13

Kent, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Kent State University

11-8

Youngstown State

11-10

Youngstown State

Kent State

Photo by: Nate Manley

Kent State Beats YSU in Softball Home Opener, 2-1

3/13/2024 5:36:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Sophomore Brynn Libler drove in the go-ahead run with a triple in the bottom of the sixth and sophomore Macy Irelan retired visiting Youngtown State in order in the top of the seventh to give Kent State a 2-1 victory in the home opener at Devine Diamond on Wednesday afternoon.

Irelan (3-4) earned the complete game victory, finishing with six strikeouts and no walks. After allowing a home run to start the game, she held the Penguins to only two hits the rest of the game. Youngstown State did not have a batter reach base after the third inning.

The Golden Flashes (11-8) were able to tie it in the bottom of the first inning, with the help on an error to start the frame. Graduate student Alexandria Whitmore swiped her team-leading sixth base of the season to move into scoring position and then hustled to cross home plate on a single by senior Emily Lippe.

Kent State had runners aboard in three of the next four innings, but it remained 1-1 entering the bottom of the sixth.

With two outs, sophomore Carley Penner extended the inning with a single. Libler then roped a shot down the right field line for a triple, bringing Penner home.

Irelan punched out the first two batters in the top of the seventh and then caught a short popup to the left of the circle for the final out.

Kent State will finish non-conference action this weekend with a three-game series at Manhattan. A doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday and first pitch on Sunday has been moved to 11 a.m.

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