Flashes Beat Pitt in Sunday Softball Action

Sunday, March 5

Huntington, W.Va.

10:00 a.m.

Kent State University

5-12

Pitt

11-5

Kent State

Pitt

Photo by: Don Elrod

Flashes Beat Pitt in Sunday Softball Action

3/5/2023 6:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Kent State defeated Pitt, 6-3, on Sunday at the Thundering Herd Round Robin and later fell to host Marshall for the second day in a row, 10-2.

The Golden Flashes (5-13) had five players record multi-hit days at the plate. Freshman Bri Despines and junior Emily Lippe led the way with three hits each. Despines had two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Lippe launched her sixth home run of the season and drove in four runs on the day.

Game 1: Kent State 6, Pitt 5
Kent State never trailed in the opening game of the day, striking for two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Emily Lippe followed a bunt single by Savannah Wing with a no-doubter way beyond the left field wall to make it 2-0.

The Golden Flashes added a run in the fifth on a double by Bri Despines, scoring Julia Mazanec from first base.

Pitt rallied to tie it in the bottom of the fifth, and it remained 3-3 at the end of the sixth inning.

A hit batter and error placed two runners aboard for Kent State in the top of the seventh. Three straight walks were then drawn by Despines, Wing and Lippe to make it 6-3. Delaney Robeson followed with a single to score the third run of the frame.

Macy Irelan kept the Panthers from scoring in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory. Irelan (2-5) tossed three scoreless relief innings. Anilese Kelly started in the circle and totaled two strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on four hits over four innings.

Lippe went 2-for-3 in the game and reached safely three times. She totaled three RBIs.

Game 2: Marshall 8, Kent State 1
Bri Despines and Emily Lippe continued to swing hot bats to start the second game of the day. Despines hit a double to left field and then scored on a two-out single by Lippe, giving the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead.

Marshall used small ball, aided by a Kent State error, to go ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first.

The Thundering Herd returned the favor in the top of the second with an error to start the frame. Following a sac bunt, walk and single that loaded the bases, Despines collected a RBI on a single that tied it at 2-2.

It remained tied to start the bottom of the third when Marshall converted a leadoff bunt single and stolen base into the go-ahead run.

The hosts added four runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to end the game.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will head to Ann Arbor for the final weekend before starting Mid-American Conference play. The Golden Flashes are scheduled to play single games against both host Michigan and Georgia Southern on March 11-12.