Kent State University
22-24, 10-9
Buffalo
8-41, 3-16
Flashes Beat Bulls Behind Ladines’ Gem, Grimm’s Homer
4/28/2017 6:56:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Standout performances by seniors Ronnie Ladines and Maddy Grimm carried Kent State to a 1-0 victory over Buffalo Friday at Nan Harvey Field. The Golden Flashes (22-24, 10-9 MAC) have now won a season-best four straight games.
Ladines (12-13) was dominant with a career-high 15 strikeouts and faced just one more batter than the minimum, as a single by Karlie Fernandez that glanced off Ladines' glove to start the bottom of the third inning is all that stood between her and a perfect game. The senior fanned 10 of the first 12 batters she faced and beat her previous career-high of 11 by the end of the fifth inning. She had multiple strikeouts in each of the first six frames and did not allow a ball leave the infield on the fly.
With Kent State struggling at the plate, Grimm came through with a home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning to score the game's only run. The slugger reached safely in all three of her plate appearances with two of the Flashes' three hits and the team's only walk.
"This is a good win to go on the road and find a way to come out on top," said head coach Eric Oakley. "The story of this game is Ronnie's career high 15 strikeouts. She commanded the zone right out of the gate and gave us the opportunity to get the win with minimal offense. And then Maddy came through, as she often does, with the big hit that put us ahead."
Sophomore Hunter Brancifort doubled in the top of the first for the Flashes' other hit of the game.
Kent State and Buffalo will complete the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ladines, Ronnie (12-13)
L: POWER (3-14)
Batting:
2B: Brancifort, Hunter 1
HR: Grimm, Maddy 1
RBI: Grimm, Maddy 1
SH: Brownfield, Bailey 1 ; Scoarste, Vanessa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grimm, Maddy 1
HBP: Sborlini, Olivia 1
