Randale L. Richmond Director of Athletics | Kent State University Athletic Department
Randale L. Richmond Director of Athletics | Kent State University Athletic Department
The Kent State softball team launched three home runs in the top of the fifth inning during the second game of a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge doubleheader on Friday and held on for a 9-5 victory after falling 3-0 in the opener.
The Golden Flashes (7-17, 2-2 MAC) collected a season-high 13 hits to even the series. Freshman Bri Despines had a team-high four hits on the day and junior Jade Ramer added three.
Game 1: Akron 3, Kent State 0The host Zips plated three runs in the bottom of the second inning on three singles, a walk and a double-steal.
All three of the Golden Flashes' hits came with two outs and the runner was unable to advance past first base each time.
Anilese Kelly (2-7) had two strikeouts and allowed three runs on six hits in six innings in the circle.
Game 2: Kent State 9, Akron 5Two errors, a walk and an infield single got the Golden Flashes on the board in the top of the second to tie it at 1-1.
Akron scored its second unearned run of the game to go back ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the second.
Kent State scored twice on four singles to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the third. Alexandria Whitmore and Brynn Libler recorded RBIs in the frame.
Bri Despines started the top of the fourth with a double. After moving to third on a groundout, Despines scored on a sac fly by Delaney Robeson to make it 4-2.
Madison Hershberger extended the lead with a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth. A single by Jade Ramer and the Zips' fourth error of the game prompted a pitching change. Despines welcomed the reliever to the game by recording her second extra-base hit of the game, a three-run homer to right-center. Emily Lippe followed with a solo shot to make it 9-2.
Akron scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Despines finished the game with a career-high three hits and matched her career-high with three RBIs. Hershberger, Ramer and Robeson had two hits apiece.
Macy Irelan (4-6) earned the victory and allowed two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout over five innings. Anilese Kelly tossed the final two innings and allowed one run on three hits.
On Deck for the FlashesThe final game of the series has been postponed to Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner will take the series and earn one point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
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