The Kent State softball team swept Mercyhurst University in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Devine Diamond. This puts KSU’s home record at 5-0, and their overall record at 14-13 (4-2).

Game One

Freshman Riley Miller started on the mound for game one.

The day started slowly, and the Flashes didn’t score their first run until the bottom of the fifth. It was freshman third baseman Gabby Quinn’s RBI single that tied the game at one.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior designated player Leilani Johnson led off with a single before she was replaced by senior outfielder Kelsey Salopek to pinch run. 

Then Quinn hit another single to center field, which brought Salopek home for the walk-off 2-1 win. 

Miller pitched the first six innings and struck out seven batters. Freshman Meadow Ferri pitched the seventh inning to earn the win. 

Game Two

Game two also started slow, but this time KSU scored in the bottom of the third from junior center fielder Aaralyn Nogay’s sacrifice fly which allowed sophomore left fielder Brooke Aberle to make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Lakers.

The Flashes took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. The three-run rally started with freshman shortstop Alex Trevena’s lead-off single, and then Aberle did the same. 

After Nogay loaded the bases with a bunt, Trevena tied the game on a wild pitch. Senior second baseman Brynn Libler’s sacrifice fly let Aberle score, and the Flashes took a 3-2 lead. Lastly, junior first baseman Megan Claerhout hit a single, which allowed Nogay to add to the lead. 

Mercyhurst’s immediate response of three runs at the top of the sixth gave them the lead by one run. 

“We knew we were probably giving up eight runs a game, so anyone that’s a returner knows, we’ve got to get to 9 runs,” coach Jessica O’Donnell said. “They just fought like there’s no tomorrow. We really had a lot of close games last year, but I think they’re used to that from a year ago of just constantly fighting and coming from behind.”

In the bottom of the seventh and final inning with the sweep on the line, Nogay led off with her second single of the game. She advanced to second after Libler flied out. 

Freshman catcher Caleigh Shaulis hit a double to center field, which allowed Nogay to score. 

With two outs and a tied score of 5-5, Claerhout stepped up to the plate and hit a single to center field, allowing Shaulis to score the winning run and give the Flashes a win with a final score of 6-5. 

Miller helped secure the win with a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit.

“I was impressed with all of our pitching,” O’Donnell said. “I think we didn’t help them very much defensively; we made too many errors. We’ve got to be able to make those plays, and then it puts us in a little bit of a hole when we make errors, and then we have bases loaded with no outs. I thought they kept us in the game, gave us a chance to win both games.”

Key Stats

Junior outfielder Ashlyn Porter leads the Flashes in batting average at .368, a very solid clip. Shaulis leads in on-base plus slugging with an average of 1.110. 

Leading in RBI is Shaulis with 25; below her is Claerhout with 15. Shaulis has hit the most home runs with eight, and Porter has the most hits with 28. Miller has the most strikeouts with 34 and the lowest ERA of 4.79. 

What’s Next

KSU will play three conference games against the Miami University RedHawks starting on Friday in Oxford, Ohio. 

“You know when you’re playing Miami that you’re gonna get a great game, and they’re gonna bring it to you,” O’Donnell said. “We know heading into this series that we need to fight. 

Audrey McCarthy is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].