Kent State University
1-5
Niagara
0-1
Stellar Pitching Performances Lead Flashes Softball to Pair of Wins
2/18/2023 8:37:00 PM | Softball
BALTIMORE – Kent State's pitching staff allowed just five total hits in a pair of wins Saturday at the Retriever Round Robin.
The Golden Flashes (2-5) started the second weekend of the season by beating Niagara, 2-1 in eight innings, and then posted a 3-1 victory over host UMBC.
Redshirt senior Anilese Kelly and senior Morgan Bowers earned victories in starting assignments, and freshman Macy Irelan was credited with a save in both games.
Junior Emily Lippe led Kent State at the plate with three hits, including two for extra bases, and three RBIs. Redshirt senior Alexandria Whitmore added two hits and scored two runs. Sophomore Savannah Wing also had a multi-hit day.
Game 1: Kent State 2, Niagara 1 (8 innings)
Anilese Kelly (1-2) had a career-high 11 strikeouts without any walks over seven innings in the circle to earn her first win of the season.
Kent State threatened in the top of the first inning after consecutive two-out walks and a wild pitch, which placed two runners in scoring position. A groundout then ended the inning without a run crossing the plate.
Back-to-back doubles by Alexandria Whitmore and Emily Lippe started the top of the second and gave the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead.
A runner was just 60 feet away from scoring again in the top of the third when Savannah Wing hit a double to the gap in left-center and moved to third on a wild pitch, but a pair of strikeouts ended the frame.
Niagara's first batter of the day reached safely on a hit by pitch to start the bottom of the third inning, and she came home to score after advancing on a single and two fielder's choices.
It remained 1-1 at the end of the seventh, and the Flashes headed to extra innings for the first time this season.
With the international tiebreaker in place, Jada Crittendon was placed at second base as a pinch runner to begin the top of the eighth. After advancing to third on a groundout, Crittendon scored a sac fly by Lippe.
Macy Irelan was brought in to pitch in the bottom of the eighth and kept the original baserunner on second with two strikeouts and a line drive to center field.
Lippe had two hits and two RBIs. Wing reached safely in all four plate appearances on a single, double and two walks.
Game 2: Kent State 3, UMBC 1
The Golden Flashes were aided by two errors in the opening frame to lead 1-0, but UMBC tied it in the bottom of the first inning on a walk and two singles.
Emily Lippe launched her first home run of the season in the top of the third for a 2-1 lead.
Starting pitcher Morgan Bowers (1-1) retired nine of the final 10 batters she faced and had three strikeouts prior to being replaced in the circle by Macy Irelan to begin the bottom of the fifth.
Kent State led 3-1 at this point after Bekah Zachrich delivered a RBI single in the top of the fifth.
Irelan held the Retrievers without a hit and had six strikeouts in three scoreless innings to earn her second save of the day.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play Niagara and UMBC again on Sunday, Feb. 19 First pitch against Niagara is scheduled for 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kelly, Anilese (1-2)
L: Leone (0-1)
S: Irelan, Macy (1)
Batting:
2B: Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Wing, Savannah 1 ; Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Lippe, Emily 1
RBI: Lippe, Emily 2
SF: Lippe, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Crittendon, Jada 1 ; Whitmore, Alexandria 1
SB: Whitmore, Alexandria 1
HBP: Whitmore, Alexandria 1
Batting:
RBI: Hare 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Myshrall 1
SB: Mayo 1
HBP: Myshrall 2
