Golden Flashes Rally in Opener, Split Doubleheader with Chippewas

Tuesday, April 30

Kent, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

25-21, 10-13

Central Michigan

14-29, 11-10

Central Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Golden Flashes Rally in Opener, Split Doubleheader with Chippewas

4/30/2024 6:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, Ohio – Kent State started the final week of the regular by splitting a doubleheader with visiting Central Michigan on Tuesday afternoon, rallying to win the first game, 7-6, and then dropping the nightcap, 11-3.

The Golden Flashes (25-22, 10-14 MAC) totaled eight of their nine hits on the day in the fourth and fifth innings of the opener to overcome a 5-0 deficit. Junior Savannah Wing and graduate student Julia Mazanec led the way, reaching safely in three of five trips to the plate to go with two hits and two runs scored each. Wing recorded four RBIs to increase her team-high to 36 for the season.

Game 1: Kent State 7, Central Michigan 6
Kent State started its comeback from a 5-0 deficit by scoring four in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Golden Flashes put together four consecutive hits following an error that would have been the final out. Julia Mazanec ripped a shot through the left side for the first hit of the game, and Emily Lippe followed with a double off the left field wall to bring home Alexandria Whitmore. Savannah Wing recorded two RBIs with a single to keep the rally going and then scored on a double to the warning track in center field by Megan Claerhout.

The top of the lineup came through in the fifth, as Whitmore followed singles by Bri Despines and Carley Penner with a triple to go ahead 6-5. After a pitching change, Julia Mazanec added a RBI single for a two-run advantage.

Megan Nuechterlein (18-11) recorded four of her career-high seven strikeouts over the final two innings to hold on for the complete game victory.

Game 2: Central Michigan 11, Kent State 2 (6 innings)
Savannah Wing put Kent State ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning with a home run to right field.

Central Michigan responded with five runs in the top of the third and added six more in the sixth for the run-rule victory.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will look to secure a spot in MAC Tournament this weekend when it hosts rival Akron for a three-game series. A doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 and a single game will conclude the series Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m.

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