Penner Earns First Career Victory in Complete Game Performance Against Harvard

Sunday, March 2

Chapel Hill, N.C.

10:00 a.m.

Kent State University

5-13

Harvard

5-4

Kent State

Harvard

Photo by: Reilly Hall

Penner Earns First Career Victory in Complete Game Performance Against Harvard

3/2/2025 4:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior Carley Penner recorded a complete game victory on Sunday as Kent State beat Harvard, 6-1, in the first of two games on the final day at the Mizuno Showdown. The Golden Flashes (5-14) lost to host North Carolina, 15-6 in the second game of the day.

In addition to earning the first win of her career, Penner led Kent State with three runs scored.

Sophomore Leilani Johnson and senior Delaney Robeson each homered. Johnson collected three hits and had a team-high four RBIs, while Robeson had four hits and drove in two. Redshirt sophomore Kendal Leitner had a 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Game 1: Kent State 6, Harvard 1
Delaney Robeson gave the Flashes a 2-0 lead with her third home run of the weekend during the top of the first inning.

An error and four walks allowed Kent State to add two runs in the third and Katie Jo Moery drove in a pair in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.

Making just her third pitching appearance of the season, Carley Penner (1-1) recorded the Flashes' first complete game. Penner held the Crimson scoreless through five innings and had three strikeouts.

Game 2: North Carolina 15, Kent State 6 (5 innings)
The Golden Flashes tied the season-high with 13 hits, but the Tar Heels' bats were also hot.

Trailing 2-0 after one, Kent State got on the board in the top of the second on a single by Leilani Johnson that brought in Kendal Leitner.

With two aboard in the fourth, Johnson launched the first home run of her collegiate career. Following a single by Carley Penner and double by Delaney Robeson, Katie Jo Moery singled to center and brought Penner home to get within 9-5.

Kasey Markusic delivered a RBI single in the fifth for the Flashes' final run of the day.

UNC walked it off with a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth.

On Deck for the Flashes
The Flashes will remain in the state for the final weekend of non-conference play with four games at the Ohio State Tournament from March 8-9.

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