Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Softball Rings the Victory Bell on Senior Day
4/20/2025 7:06:00 PM | Softball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Northern Illinois, 9-3, in the series finale on Senior Day at Devine Diamond. The Huskies came from behind to win the opening game, which was suspended Saturday morning, 9-8, and took the second game by a score of 5-3.
Despite the series loss, the Golden Flashes outscored their guest 20-17 and posted a .337 batting average over the three games. Senior Katie Jo Moery led the way with two hits in each contest and was one of four batters with at least three RBIs.
The pitching staff recorded a 2.33 ERA for the series, but eight errors led the 10 unearned runs. Senior Delaney Nagy and freshman Ella Johnson combined for just one earned run while tossing 7.1 innings each.
Game 1: Northern Illinois 9, Kent State 8
Kendal Leitner answered a two-run homer by NIU in the top of the first with a three-run shot in the bottom of the first for a 3-2 lead.
An error extended the top of the fourth and allowed the Huskies to tie it. After a walk put two aboard, a home run gave them a 6-3 lead.
Kent State got one run back in the bottom of the inning, as Leilani Johnson hit a double off the base of the wall in left-center and pinch runner Brooke Aberle scored on a single by Brynn Libler.
The Golden Flashes plated four in the fifth for an 8-6 lead on two-run hits by Katie Jo Moery and Johnson.
Northern Illinois cut its deficit in half with a run in the top of the sixth and had runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh when lightning halted play on Saturday. A walk drawn by the first batter when play resumed on Sunday was followed by a single that brought home the tying and go-ahead runs.
Johnson started the bottom of the seventh with her third hit of the game. After the next two batters were retired, Kam Utendorf drew a walk and represented the winning run at first base, but the Flashes were unable to complete another comeback.
Game 2: Northern Illinois 5, Kent State 3
After the Huskies took a 5-0 lead in the top of the second, Ella Johnson entered the circle and held them scoreless over the final 5.1 innings.
Kent State recorded a hit in each of the first four innings but was unable to score until a double by Kam Utendorf plated Katie Jo Moery in the bottom of the fifth.
Megan Claerhout and Moery launched solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively
Seven of the Golden Flashes' nine hits went for extra bases. Aaralyn Nogay led the way with a double and a triple.
Game 3: Kent State 9, Northern Illinois 3
The Golden Flashes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a single by Kendal Leitner that scored Aaralyn Nogay, who started the frame with a bunt single.
NIU tied it with a solo homer in the top second, but Kent State went back ahead in the bottom of the second. Leilani Johnson hit her second double of the series and pinch runner Brooke Aberle came home on Nogay's second hit of the game.
Three consecutive hits to start the top of the fifth allowed the Huskies to take their first lead of the finale, 3-2.
Delaney Nagy then entered the circled and recorded three outs on just five pitches. Nagy then held NIU scoreless in the sixth.
Kent State's bats caught fire in the bottom of the sixth and plated seven runs for its highest-scoring inning since opening weekend. Kam Utendorf put the Flashes back in the lead with a two-run single. Brynn Libler added a RBI single to make it 5-3, and Megan Claerhout followed with another single to bring a pair home. After an error extended the frame, two more runs scored when Carley Penner beat out an infield single.
Nagy completed her third scoreless inning in the top of the seventh to finish the victory.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will finish non-conference play on Tuesday, April 22 with a game at Youngstown State.
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