Golden Flashes Sweep UMass in Home Opener

Friday, March 13

Kent, Ohio

1:00 PM

Kent State University

9-11, 1-0

UMass

7-13, 0-1

Massachusetts

Kent St.

3/13/2026 7:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT – Kent State Softball (10-11) notched a pair of victories over the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Friday in their home opening doubleheader at Devine Diamond. The Golden Flashes walked off the Minuteowomen in game one following it up with a rule-run 14-1 blowout in game two.

Game 1: Kent State 3, UMass 2

Kent State took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Aaralyn Nogay drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. After Brynn Libler grounded out to advance Nogay to third, Caleigh Shaulis was hit by a pitch. Megan Claerhout followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Nogay and give the Golden Flashes a 1-0 advantage.

The Golden Flashes extended their lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Alex Trevena led off with a double to center field. Nogay advanced Trevena to third and Libler followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Trevena.

Massachusetts pulled within 2-1 in the fourth inning before tying the game at 2-2 with an unearned run in the sixth.

Gabby Quinn reached second and was replaced by pinch runner Miley Anderson. Brooke Aberle advanced Anderson to third with a sacrifice bunt that resulted in an error by the third baseman. Trevena then delivered the game-winning RBI when she reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring Anderson to give the Golden Flashes a 3-2 walk-off victory.

Riley Miller earned the win, working all seven innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out two batters and inducing 15 ground ball outs. Trevena and Nogay were standouts for Kent State. Trevena went 1-for-3 performance including a double and an RBI. Nogay went 1-for-1 with a run scored, a walk, a stolen base, and a sacrifice bunt. Brooke Aberle finished 1-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt. Claerhout added an RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Kelsey Salopek contributed a stolen base as a pinch runner in her Kent State Softball. She recently joined the team following her decorated career with Kent State Women's Soccer.

Game 2: Kent State 14, UMass 1 (5. Innings)

Kent State struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Nogay launched a leadoff home run to right field to give the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Flashes broke the game open with a 10-run second inning. Leilani Johnson drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch runner Kelsey Salopek. Ashlyn Porter followed with a bunt single to put two runners on base, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Quinn delivered an RBI single to center field to score Salopek and make it 2-0. After Quinn stole second, Aberle drew a walk to load the bases. Trevena plated a run with a single through the left side to score Porter and extend the lead to 3-0. Nogay followed with an RBI walk to score Quinn.

After Libler drove in Aberle with a sacrifice fly to left center, Shaulis delivered a two-run double to left center to score Trevena and Nogay and push the advantage to 7-0. Shaulis then stole third base before Claerhout drove her in with an RBI single to center field. Johnson followed with an RBI double to right center to score Claerhout, and Porter grounded out to advance Johnson to third. Quinn capped the rally with a two-run home run to center field, scoring Johnson from third to give Kent State an 11-0 lead.

The Golden Flashes added three more runs in the fourth inning. After Johnson singled through the left side and Aberle reached on an error, Trevena drew a walk to load the bases. Nogay cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right center, scoring Johnson, Aberle, and Trevena to extend the lead to 14-0.

Massachusetts tallied an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning.

Meadow Ferri earned the win, working 4.2 innings and allowing one run on six hits while striking out a pair.

Offensively, Nogay paced the Golden Flashes with a 2-for-3 performance including a home run, a triple, and four RBI, while also drawing a walk. Quinn went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, Johnson finished 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a walk, and Shaulis was 1-for-2 with a double, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Trevena added a 1-for-2 effort with an RBI and a walk, Claerhout went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Porter was 1-for-2. Libler contributed an RBI with a sacrifice fly and a stolen base, while Aberle drew a walk and recorded a stolen base.

On Deck for the Flashes

Kent State will go for the series sweep on Saturday, March 14. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Devins

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For complete coverage of Kent State Softball, 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.

Follow Kent State Athletics

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.