Robeson’s Walk-off Home Run Secures Series Victory

Wednesday, April 26

Kent, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

14-28, 9-11

Buffalo

10-33, 4-15

BUF

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Robeson’s Walk-off Home Run Secures Series Victory

4/26/2023 7:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENT, Ohio – Sophomore Delaney Robeson launched her second home run of the day, and eighth of the season, to lead off the top of eighth inning to give Kent State a 4-3 victory over Buffalo in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Devine Diamond. The Golden Flashes (14-29, 9-12 MAC) were unable to complete the series sweep and lost the second game, 2-0.

Robeson totaled three hits on the day and reached base five times.

Freshman Macy Irelan continued to baffle Bulls hitters and had eight strikeouts over 6.1 relief innings over the two games. Irelan totaled 22 strikeouts to only one walk over 13.1 innings during the three-game series.

Game 1: Kent State 4, Buffalo 3
The Golden Flashes jumped on starting pitcher Julia Tarantino with three of the first four batters in the bottom of the first inning recording hits. Julia Mazanec sent a single through the left side before being retired on a fielder's choice for Bri Despines. Delaney Robeson followed with a single up the middle, and runners were in scoring position following a successful double-steal. Savannah Wing drove Despines in with a single before being doubled up on a line drive hit to the first baseman to end the frame.

Robeson made it 2-0 with a home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the third.

Buffalo took the lead on a three-run homer in the top of the fifth.

Alexandria Whitmore drew a walk to start the bottom of the seventh and moved to third via a wild throw on a sac bunt by Bekah Zachrich. Whitmore scored on a sac fly by Jalynn Young and the winning run moved 60 feet from the plate. That runner was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on a bouncer to the shortstop, and the game went to extra innings.

Macy Irelan prevented the Bulls from scoring in the top of the eighth, and Robeson brought the game to an end quickly with a leadoff blast in the bottom half of the inning. The sophomore is the first Flash to hit multiple home runs in a game this season.

Irelan (8-11) earned the victory, striking out six and allowing two hits in 3.1 scoreless relief innings. Anilese Kelly totaled two strikeouts and allowed three runs on three hits over 4.2 innings.

Game 2: Buffalo 2, Kent State 0
Gabbie Sherman and Macy Irelan held the Bulls to just three hits, all for extra bases, but the Golden Flashes left nine runners on base and were unable to produce any runs in the series finale.

In her first appearance since May 15, 2021, Sherman (0-1) retired six of the first seven batters she faced. The lone Buffalo hitter to reach hit a home run to make it 1-0 in the second inning. The redshirt junior allowed just one more hit and recorded two strikeouts prior to being replaced in the circle to start the fifth inning.

Kent State's best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the first, which began with a single by Alexandria Whitmore. A hit batter and wild pitch placed two runners in scoring position with just one out, but a pair of strikeouts followed to end the threat.

A walk, sac bunt and double in the top of the seventh allowed Buffalo to extend its lead to 2-0.

An error allowed Kent State's first batter to reach in the bottom of the seventh, but the next three were retired to end the game.

Irelan recorded two strikeouts and allowed one run on one hit in three innings of relief work.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State visits Bowling Green for its final road series on April 29-30.