Kent State University
20-17, 6-9
Buffalo
12-24, 4-11
Pitching Shines During Doubleheader at Buffalo
4/16/2024 5:47:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Freshmen Ella Esterby and Megan Nuechterlein allowed just one earned run and held host Buffalo to a .167 batting average as Kent State split a Mid-American Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes (20-18, 6-10 MAC) won the first game of the day, 6-1, and came up short in a 2-1 setback in the nightcap.
Nuechterlein made appearances in both games, totaling 10 innings while limiting the Bulls to one run on four hits.
Offensively, juniors Delaney Robeson and Savannah Wing and sophomore Carley Penner each had multi-hit games.
Game 1: Kent State 6, Buffalo 1
Buffalo got the first two hits of the game in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Kent State recorded back-to-back hits with two outs to tie it in the top of the fifth. Kenzie Bromley sent a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a single by Delaney Robeson.
The Golden Flashes totaled six hits, including four with two outs, to take the lead and score five in the top of the sixth. Singles and stolen bases allowed Alexandria Whitmore and Julia Mazanec to get in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Whitmore to score the go-ahead run as Mazanec advanced to third base.
Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Emily Lippe got the rally started with a well-struck single to center field that scored Mazanec. A single by Carley Penner and walk drawn by Kenzie Bromley loaded the bases. Delaney Robeson recorded two RBIs with a single and Bri Despines capped the scoring with a ground-rule double.
Megan Nuechterlein (13-8) retired six of seven batters in the sixth and seventh innings to finish a complete game victory. Nuechterlein nearly matched her career-high with five strikeouts and held Buffalo to four hits.
Game 2: Buffalo 2, Kent State 1
An error and two doubles allowed the Bulls to lead 2-0 after the first inning.
Kent State got on the board in the top of the fourth, as Savannah Wing got it started with a single for the first of her two hits in the game. Two batters later, Megan Claerhout brought her home with a pinch-hit double.
Following a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth inning, Megan Nuechterlein entered to pitch for the Golden Flashes. Nuechterlein kept Buffalo hitless over three innings and had three strikeouts, allowing the offense to remain one swing from tying it.
That swing didn't come, though, as Wing's double with one out in the top of the sixth was the only hit the rest of the game.
In her second start of conference play, Ella Esterby (0-3) totaled two strikeouts and allowed two unearned runs over three innings.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will be back in action at Devine Diamond this weekend against Bowling Green. A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. with a single game slated for 12 p.m. Sunday.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nuechterlein, Megan (13-8)
L: Lucyshyn, Alexis (8-10)
Batting:
2B: Despines, Bri 1
RBI: Despines, Bri 1 ; Lippe, Emily 1 ; Robeson, Delaney 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Lippe, Emily 1 ; Penner, Carley 1 ; Bromley, Kenzie 2
SB: Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Mazanec, Julia 1
Batting:
RBI: Lucyshyn, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wasielewski, Alyssa 1
SB: Mitchell, Mia 1
