Mazanec Homers Twice in Series Opener at Miami

Friday, April 26

Oxford, Ohio

5:00 p.m.

Kent State University

24-19, 9-11

Miami

38-7, 19-1

Kent State

Miami

Mazanec Homers Twice in Series Opener at Miami

4/26/2024 8:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio – Graduate student Julia Mazanec hit two home runs and scored three times as Kent State threatened to give first-place Miami its first home loss of the season before falling, 8-6, Friday evening in the opening game of a Mid-American Conference softball series.

The Golden Flashes (24-19, 9-11 MAC) outhit their host 11-9 in the contest, as Mazanec, graduate student Alexandria Whitmore and freshman Megan Claerhout had three hits apiece.

After the RedHawks struck for three in the bottom of the first, Mazanec started the second with a blast to center field.

Miami answered with a two-run shot in the bottom of the third to make it 5-1.

Kent State's first four batters in the top of the fourth collected hits as part of a rally to tie it. Mazanec hit her second leadoff homer down the left field line to get it started. Senior Emily Lippe followed with a single and Whitmore brought in freshman Ellie Facher, who entered as a pinch runner, with a triple to center. Claerhout then ended the Miami starter's day with a RBI double. Sophomore Brynn Libler then laid down a sac bunt and reached safely on a throwing error, which allowed Claerhout to score the tying run.

A two-out double in the top of the fifth by Whitmore allowed Mazanec to score and give the Flashes a 6-5 lead.

Miami went back ahead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and added a solo home run in the sixth.

Freshman Megan Nuechterlein (17-9) went the distance in the circle for Kent State and totaled three strikeouts.

Kent State and Miami are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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