Two-Out Hits Lead Flashes to MAC Softball Championship Games

Saturday, May 13

Akron, Ohio

10:30 a.m.

Kent State University

30-26

Northern Illinois

33-21

Kent State

Northern Illinois

Photo by: Mid-American Conference

Two-Out Hits Lead Flashes to MAC Softball Championship Games

5/13/2017 1:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

AKRON, Ohio – No. 4 seed Kent State scored four runs with two outs as part of a six-run third inning en route to a 9-3 victory over No. 3 seed Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference Tournament elimination game on Saturday afternoon. Senior Ronnie Ladines homered twice and earned her second victory in the in as many days.

The Golden Flashes (30-26) batted 6-for-13 and scored seven runs with two outs in the game. In total, Kent State pounded out 14 hits in the contest, matching the most in any game this season. Junior Vanessa Scoarste led the way with the best game of her career, as the Medina native went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Five additional Kent State players — Jen Cader, Emily Dobbin, Maddy Grimm, Ronnie Ladines and Holly Speers — had two hits apiece.

"Our team came into today with the mindset that we get to pay another game of softball for every game that we win," said head coach Eric Oakley. "I told them after we lost last night that there are no expectations on either team that had to play in today's first game, and I think that helped them play relaxed."

Grimm tied her own single-season record with her 19th home run of the season to put the Flashes ahead 1-0 in the first inning.

NIU took a 2-1 lead in the second on a walk, two singles and a double.

The Flashes answered immediately with six runs on six hits in the top of the third. The rally started with back-to-back doubles by Grimm and Speers. A single by Ladines moved Speers to third, and she scored on a fielder's choice for the second out by sophomore Bailey Brownfield. Cader followed with a four-pitch walk and junior Allie Luther made it 4-2 with a pinch-hit single up the middle. NIU made a pitching change and Scoarste brought in both runners with a double. Dobbin added a RBI single to center field for a 7-2 lead.

With two outs in the fourth, Ladines drew a walk and Brownfield was hit by a pitch to extend the inning. Cader then doubled the opposite way to score Ladines and Brownfield.

The Huskies added a run in the sixth inning for the game's final tally.

Ladines (18-14) got her first rest of the game and allowed two runs on five hits in four innings. To go with seven strikeouts. Senior Janel Hayes earned a save while allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts over the final three innings.

No. 4 seed Kent State advances to play No. 2 Ohio and will need to defeat the Bobcats twice to win the tournament title.