Softball

Kumar Gets First Win at Miami with Split at Tennessee

Sunday's Scoreboard
Georgia 4, Kent State 1
Kent State 9, Longwood 7
Northern Illinois 3, FIU 0 
St. Francis 11, Buffalo 4
Saint Francis 3, Buffalo 0
Miami 2, Tennessee 0 
Tennessee 7, Miami 3 
Bowling Green 1, Radford 0 
Story Courtesy of MAC Sports Information 

Kent State 9, Longwood 7
Box Score
Kent State got contributions throughout the lineup and scored nine runs on 11 hits in the first two innings.

Senior Kennadie Goth got it started with a single. Goth advanced to second on a single by senior Kaitlyn Miller and scored when senior Brenna Brownfield doubled down the left field line. Senior Carlee Selle followed with a single up the middle to bring Miller home. Redshirt senior Olivia Sborlini drove in the final run of the inning with a single.

Three walks and a single in the bottom of the first allowed Longwood to get within 3-2.

The Golden Flashes delivered five hits with two outs in the top of the second to push the lead to 9-2. Brownfield, Selle and junior Megan Turner each brought in a run with singles. Sborlini then doubled to plate Selle and came around to score, along with Turner, on a double by sophomore Autumn Acord.

The Lancers struck for solo runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 9-5. A double and single to start the sixth scored another run and prompted freshman Jessica LeBeau to enter the circle for her first collegiate relief appearance. The first batter LeBeau faced hit a triple to bring the tying run to the plate, but she was unfazed and induced a ground ball to third followed by two strikeouts to end the threat.

LeBeau struck out the first batter in the bottom of the seventh but an error allowed the second batter to reach. Another strikeout was followed by a walk and the winning run stepped to the plate. The freshman needed only three pitches to record her fifth strikeout of the game and earn her first career save.

Sophomore Morgan Bowers (1-1) threw four innings and was victorious in her first start inside the circle. Bowers had three strikeouts and allowed three earned runs on three hits. Sophomore Gabbie Sherman made her season debut in relief and allowed two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in one inning.

Junior Brooklyn Whitt collected a career-high three hits to lead the offense, while Brownfield, Selle and Sborlini added two hits apiece.

Northern Illinois 3, FIU 0 
Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Northern Illinois University softball team concluded play at the FGCU Invitational hosted by Florida Gulf Coast with a 3-0 win over Florida International at the FGCU Softball Complex on Saturday.
 
NIU (3-2) pounded out six hits in the contest with three extra base hits. The Huskies scored a run in each of the second, third and fourth innings. Carley Goetschius got things going with a home run to left field in the top of the second.
 
In the third, Amberly Rodriguez reached on a one-out error by the Panther pitcher. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and was driven home on a Kelly Wallinksi sacrifice fly to centerfield to put the Huskies up 2-0.
 
A lead-off double by Bianca Barone in the fourth set the table for Sam Mallinder, who came in to pinch hit. Mallinder delivered with a single to center to put NIU up by three.
 
Claire Norred was stellar in the circle, throwing a complete game, one-hit shutout. The Huskie freshman struck out eight while not walking a batter.
 
"It was nice putting the pressure on their defense multiple innings in a row after Carley opened the door for us," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "Claire bounced back and threw a fantastic one hitter. Heading home 3-2 is a nice start to our season."
 
The Huskies return to action Saturday, Mar. 6 when NIU travels to Grand Canyon for a weekend series with the Lopes. Game times will be announced closer to gameday.

Miami 2, Tennessee 0 
Box Score
The Miami University softball team split a series with No. 23/24 Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. Miami dropped a 7-3 decision in game one and Courtney Vierstra pitched a complete-game shutout in game two as the RedHawks walked away with a 2-0 victory. The win was the first for head coach Kirin Kumar as the RedHawks are now 1-3 on the year. Tennessee falls to 5-1.

Bowling Green 1, Radford 0 
Box Score
ROCK HILL. S.C. – Redshirt freshman Payton Gottshall threw yet another complete-game shutout as the Bowling Green State University softball team defeated Radford University, 1-0, Sunday morning (Feb. 21). The game marked the Falcons' final contest in the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament.

Nikki Sorgi's two-out single in the fifth inning scored pinch-runner Peyton Dolejs with the game's only run. Reagan Williamson's one-out single, along with a Radford error, put Dolejs in scoring position before Sorgi brought her home.

Gottshall outdueled Radford starter Jessie Marvin in Sunday's contest. The two combined to allow just seven hits, with neither team picking up a hit until the fourth frame.

Marvin needed just 81 pitches to get through seven innings, throwing 56 for strikes. She allowed four hits, and one (unearned) run, walking two and striking out two.

Gottshall threw 76 of her 101 pitches for strikes en route to a complete-game three-hit shutout. She struck out 14 and did not walk a batter.