Golden Flashes Head to Toledo for Weekend Series

On Apr 22, 2022

Kent State looks to begin its climb in Mid-American Conference standings this weekend when it travels to Toledo for a three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and conclude the series Sunday with a single game at 12 p.m.

Series Schedule
Saturday, April 23
1 p.m. Game 1 (ESPN3)
3:30 p.m. Game 2 (ESPN3)

Sunday, April 24
12 p.m. Game 3 (ESPN3)

Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes (14-22, 5-11 MAC) dropped both games of a doubleheader to Ohio, 7-6 and 7-0, on Wednesday despite both teams collecting 16 hits on the day.

A two-run homer by Chloe Cruz was part of a big first inning in the opener and Kent State took a 3-0 lead. Ohio took advantage of a dropped third strike to start the top of the third, scoring four unearned runs and then adding a single run in the fourth to make it 5-3.

Sophomore Emily Lippe tied it with a home run in the fifth, but the Bobcats answered with their own two-run homer in the sixth. Lippe homered again to lead off the seventh, but the Flashes were unable to plate the tying run. Fifth-year Madyson Cole had a career-high three hits to lead the way in the opening game.

Annalia Paoli’s grand slam in the top of the seventh, her second long ball of the nightcap, allowed Ohio to break it open. Kent State outhit the Bobcats, 7-6, but left eight runners on base. Freshmen Delaney Robeson and Savannah Wing had two hits each.

Scouting Toledo
The Rockets (9-13, 2-16 MAC) have lost five in a row and are 1-18 since a 5-4 victory over Western Michigan in the conference opener on March 19.

Toledo is led at the plate by the trio of Dayna Denner, Jenna Kroll and Aubrey Reed. Denner, the 2021 MAC Player of the Year, ranks among the top-10 in the league in batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.455), hits (40) and doubles (11) while also leading the team with six home runs and 23 RBIs. Kroll has also launched six homers and is right behind with 22 RBIs. Reed has five home runs and 17 RBIs.

The Rockets’ pitching staff ranks last in the MAC in ERA (6.16) and opponent batting average (.341). Opponents have scored five or more runs in 30 of 40 games. Sophia Knight (5-15) has a 6.27 ERA and leads the staff with 85 strikeouts and 106 innings pitched.

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