Kent State University
Toledo
Golden Flashes Head to Toledo for MAC Softball Series
4/5/2024 10:32:00 AM | Softball
The Kent State softball team continues Mid-American Conference play with a three-game series at Toledo. A doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday and a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m. The entire series will be streamed on ESPN+.
About the Golden Flashes
Kent State (18-12, 4-4 MAC) lost both games of a doubleheader against Ohio on Tuesday by scores of 7-1 and 4-2.
The offense has shown much improvement early in the season, as the Golden Flashes rank 38th nationally with a .313 batting average while ranking second in the MAC in batting in scoring (5.03 runs per game) and slugging percentage (.459).
Graduate student Alexandria Whitmore leads the team with a .369 batting average while ranking in the top-five in the conference in hits (38), triples (3) and stolen bases (11). Junior Savannah Wing is tied for the MAC lead with 12 doubles and is batting .364 with a team-high 27 RBIs.
Sophomore Brynn Libler has started conference play strong and leads the team with a .478 batting average and seven RBIs against MAC pitching.
Senior Emily Lippe collected her 100th career and launched her team-best seventh home run of the season during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Northern Illinois. Lippe has 24 RBIs and sits ninth all-time in program history with 93 career RBIs.
The pitching staff has the lowest ERA in the conference (3.19) and the second-lowest opponent batting average (.247). Sophomore Macy Irelan (7-5) ranks second in the conference with a 2.19 ERA and has 95 strikeouts, which is third. Freshman Megan Nuechterlein (11-5) shares MAC lead with 11 wins.
Scouting the Opposition
Toledo (16-13, 7-2 MAC) has won six conference games in a row and sits second in the standings entering the weekend. The Rockets lost two of three against Akron in the first MAC series before outscoring Bowling Green and Ball State 45-15 in back-to-back series sweeps.
Led by Sidney Griffith (.407) and Riley Mohr (.404), Toledo ranks 39th in the nation with a .311 batting average. Griffith has a conference-best .515 average in MAC games and Mohr has reached base in 16 straight games while recording a team-high 23 RBIs. Eli Enriquez adds a .384 batting average. The speedster ranks seventh in the country with 22 stolen bases and is tied for the conference lead with four triples.
Sophia Knight is the ace of the pitching staff and is in the top-five in the MAC in victories (11), ERA (2.28), innings (107.2) and opponent batting average (.229).
Series History
Kent State is 65-43 all-time against Toledo. The Rockets have won three straight meetings, including 6-4 and 7-5 victories in Kent last season.
On Deck
Kent State will host Western Michigan at Devine Diamond for a three-game series on April 12-13.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and
