Kent State University
6-14, 1-0
Ball State
10-12, 0-1
Whitmore’s Walk-Off Double Leads Flashes in MAC Softball Opener
3/17/2023 10:22:00 PM | Softball
BEREA, Ohio – Redshirt senior Alexandria Whitmore hit the game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game of the day, as Kent State opened Mid-American Conference softball play with a doubleheader split against Ball State on Friday at BW Softball Field.
The Golden Flashes (6-15, 1-1 MAC) showed excellent plate discipline and drew a season-high seven walks in each game, resulting in 13 runs on 15 hits. Six players had multiple hits on the day. Senior Julia Mazanec led the way with three hits and freshman Bekah Zachrich totaled four RBIs.
Game 1: Kent State 4, Ball State 3
After escaping a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning, the Golden Flashes plated three runs in the bottom of the first. Julia Mazanec got it started with an infield single. The next two batters were retired but three straight walks pushed the first run across the plate. Jade Ramer followed with a single back up the middle to make it 3-0.
Ball State's first four batters reached in the top of the third as the visitors got within 3-2.
Kent State left multiple runners on base in each of the next three innings to allow the Cardinals to stay in it.
Ball State led off the top of the seventh with a double and used sacrifice hits by the next two batters to even it up.
Delaney Robeson sent a hard-hit ball back up the middle to begin the bottom of the seventh and moved to second on a passed ball. Whitmore then hit a double to the warning track to bring Ramer across the plate for the winning run.
Ramer reached base in all four of her plate appearances on a pair of hits and two walks. She scored two runs.
Macy Irelan (3-6) earned the victory, tossing the final three innings in relief. Irelan had three strikeouts and allowed just one run on two hits. Anilese Kelly also had three strikeouts and limited the Cardinals to two runs on three hits.
Game 2: Ball State 15, Kent State 9
The Golden Flashes answered a three-run opening frame, beginning with a leadoff home run by Julia Mazanec. Singles by Bri Despines and Delaney Robeson, along with a four-pitch walk drawn by Savannah Wing, loaded the bases with just one out. A fielding error allowed Despines and Wing to score and tie it at 3-3.
Ball State scored three again in the top of the second, but Kent State was only able to get two back in the bottom half. Four straight walks brought in the first run, and a fielder's choice that scored Jada Crittendon to make it 6-5.
The Cardinals plated one run in the third and three in the fifth to lead 10-5.
The Flashes took advantage of an error in the bottom of the fifth to score four unearned runs, including three on a double by Bekah Zachrich, to get within 10-9.
A two-out double extended Ball State's lead to 11-9 in the top of the sixth, but a terrific relay throw by Robeson cut down a runner at the plate to end the frame.
The Cardinals added four runs in the seventh.
Anilese Kelly (2-5) tossed four innings in relief and had three strikeouts while allowing four runs on six hits.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will visit Ohio State on Tuesday, March 21 and then return to MAC play with a three-game series at rival Akron on March 24-25.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MURPHY, Bridie (3-0)
L: Kelly, Anilese (2-5)
Batting:
2B: DANIEL, Amaia 1 ; MORRIS, Aislinn 1 ; GIBSON, Kaitlyn 1
HR: WYNN, Haley 2 ; ARMENDARIZ, Jazmyne 1
RBI: WYNN, Haley 4 ; DANIEL, Amaia 1 ; ARMENDARIZ, Jazmyne 3 ; TIMMONS, McKayla 1 ; MORRIS, Aislinn 2 ; MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 2 ; GIBSON, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WYNN, Haley 3 ; DANIEL, Amaia 2 ; ARMENDARIZ, Jazmyne 3 ; TIMMONS, McKayla 1 ; MULHOLLAND, McKenna 1 ; MORRIS, Aislinn 1 ; LOVETT, Ashlee 1 ; MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 2 ; ROSS, Remington 1
SB: MATHEWS, Kaitlyn 2 ; ROSS, Remington 1
Batting:
2B: Hershberger, Madison 1 ; Zachrich, Bekah 1
HR: Mazanec, Julia 1
RBI: Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Wing, Savannah 1 ; Zachrich, Bekah 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Mazanec, Julia 1 ; Despines, Bri 1 ; Wing, Savannah 2 ; Shammo, Sydney 1 ; Robeson, Delaney 1 ; Whitmore, Alexandria 1 ; Zachrich, Bekah 1 ; Crittendon, Jada 1
CS: Robeson, Delaney 1
