Kent State Walks Off to Defeat Bucknell, Falls to UNC Greensboro on Saturday

Saturday, February 21

Greensboro, N.C.

10:00 AM

Kent State University

8-4

Bucknell

1-7

Bucknell

Kent State University

Photo by: Lauren Vasko

Kent State Walks Off to Defeat Bucknell, Falls to UNC Greensboro on Saturday

2/21/2026 8:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Kent State Softball team (8-5) split a pair of games on Saturday at day two of the UNCG Invitational. The Golden Flashes defeated Bucknell University 5-4 in eight innings in the morning before falling to hosting University of North Carolina Greensboro 7-0 in afternoon

Game 1: Kent State 5, Bucknell 4 (8 innings)

Kent State grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Aaralyn Nogay drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Ashlyn Porter delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Nogay from second and give the Golden Flashes a 1-0 advantage.

Bucknell tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning when the Bison loaded the bases with one out and scored a run on an RBI single to left field. Kent State followed in the bottom of the fifth inning getting two across retaking the lead 3-1. Nogay led off with a bunt single to third base and stole second. Brynn Libler drove her in with an RBI triple to first base to make it 2-1. After Porter popped up, Megan Claerhout delivered an RBI single to center field to score Libler making it 3-1.

The Bison scored a pair in the sixth inning on two hits to tie the game 3-3. The game entered extras as Sarah Zimmerman doubled to bring home that runner from second base allowing Bucknell to enter the bottom of the eight with a one run lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning with Gabby Quinn placed as a runner on second base, Shaulis launched a walk off two-run home run to left center field to give the Golden Flashes a 5-4 victory.

Alena Hillyard earned the win in relief, working the eighth inning and allowing one run on two hits. Meadow Ferri started and pitched four innings, allowing one run on four hits. At the plate, Claerhout led the Golden Flashes with a 2-for-4 performance including a double and an RBI. Shaulis finished 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and a walk, while Libler went 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Porter added a 1-for-3 effort with an RBIs and a walk, Nogay was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk, and two stolen bases, and Leilani Johnson went 1-for-2 with a walk. Alex Trevena contributed two sacrifice bunts and a stolen base.

Game 2: Kent State 0, UNCG 7

The Golden Flashes were shut out by the Spartans' Brooklyn Shroyer, who held Kent State to just three hits over 6.2 innings. UNCG jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Spartans added one run in the third and three more in the fourth to build a commanding 7-0 advantage. Kent State's best scoring opportunity came in the third inning when Johnson doubled to left center, but the Golden Flashes were unable to capitalize. Libler doubled to right center in the fourth inning and advanced to third on a fly out, but again Kent State could not push across a run. Johnson led Kent State with a 1-for-2 performance including a double. Libler finished 1-for-3 with a double, and Porter added a 1-for-3 effort with a single in the seventh inning.

On Deck for the Flashes

The Golden Flashes will wrap up the UNCG Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 22. Their final game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. against hosting UNC Greensboro.

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For complete coverage of Kent State Athletics, download the official Kent State Golden Flashes app (iOS, Android) and follow the Golden Flashes on social media on X, Instagram , and Facebook for news and updates.