Kent State University
8-20
Robert Morris
11-14
Kent State Softball Drops Pair Sunday at RMU
4/2/2023 7:03:00 PM | Softball
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Kent State softball team lost a pair of games at Robert Morris on Sunday by scores of 4-1 and 5-3.
The Golden Flashes (8-21) totaled 12 hits on the day but left 19 runners on base. Redshirt senior Alexandria Whitmore went 4-for-7 at the plate with a pair of hits in each game and totaled two RBIs.
Game 1: Robert Morris 4, Kent State 1
The Golden Flashes trailed 3-0 after five innings. Singles by Delaney Robeson and Jade Ramer and a walk drawn by Madison Hershberger loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth. Following an unsuccessful sac bunt attempt in which the runner was thrown out at the plate, the RMU first baseman committed an error on a ball hit by Julia Mazanec and made it a 3-1 game.
Kent State was unable was unable to add more runs, and the Colonials got the run back in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-1.
The Flashes sent the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh after a walk and error placed two aboard with two outs, but a ground ball back to the pitcher ended the game.
Carley Penner (0-1) allowed two unearned runs and four hits over two innings in her first collegiate start inside the circle. Macy Irelan tossed the final four innings and had four strikeouts while allowing two runs on four hits.
Game 2: Robert Morris 5, Kent State 3
A leadoff single and two-out triple gave the Colonials a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Kent State took its first lead of the day in the top of the third, scoring a pair after the first two batters of the frame were retired. Julia Mazanec got the rally started with a single and moved to second after an error. A double-steal placed Mazanec at third, and she scored on a single down the left field line by Alexandria Whitmore. Another double-steal followed with Whitmore swiping second and Bri Despines scoring for a 2-1 lead.
Starting pitcher Morgan Bowers retired the next six batters she faced before being replaced by Macy Irelan to start the bottom of the fifth. Bowers had two strikeouts and held RMU to one run on three hits over four innings.
Irelan started her second relief appearance of the day strong, sitting down the first four batters she faced before a throwing error after fielding a bunt with one out in the bottom of the sixth. The Colonials followed with two singles to center field to tie it at 2-2. After recording the second out of the inning, Irelan hit a batter to load the bases and then allowed two more singles that plated three runners.
Despines attempted to start a rally in the top of the seventh, hitting a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a ball hit by Whitmore that got under the glove of the RMU shortstop. The shortstop made up for the error with a nice catch on a line drive and then throwing to first to complete the double-play and end the game.
Irelan (5-8) had two strikeouts and did not allow an earned run in two innings.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State is scheduled for its second home series when it hosts Northern Illinois on April 7-8.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: GARVER (3-2)
L: Penner, Carley (0-1)
S: VATAKIS (2)
Batting:
2B: Hershberger, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ramer, Jade 1
Batting:
2B: VENTURA 1
RBI: RESNIK 3
SH: SAXEN 1 ; EHRMAN 1
SF: RESNIK 1
Base Running:
RUNS: VENTURA 1 ; QUICKEL 1 ; MATHENY 1 ; EHRMAN 1
