Flashes Host Robert Morris in Doubleheader Wednesday
Kent State continues its 10-game homestand Wednesday, hosting Robert Morris (18-14) in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. The Golden Flashes won three of its first four games at the Diamond at Dix this past weekend and sit in a first place tie atop the MAC East standings
Live stats for both games can be viewed on www.kentstatesports.com
Quick Flashes
Coming off of a 4-2 week, Kent State (16-16) has gone 12-7 since March 4.
Senior Mary Holt (Providence, R.I.) hit .400 with a home run, a double and three runs batted in four conference games on the weekend.
Senior Shannon Laughlin (Fairview Park, Ohio) had an extra-base hit in all four conference games. Laughlin hit .333 on the week with four doubles, a home run and five RBI.
Kent State ranks 13th in the nation in doubles per game (1.5), led by Holt and Laughlin with eight.
Freshman Dani Ramos (South Euclid, Ohio) hit .429 (9-for-21) on the week with five runs scored, raising her season average to .344.
Since 1999, Kent State has gone 133-58 at home.
In her last eight appearances, freshman Emma Johnson (Groveport, Ohio) is 6-0 with a 1.12 ERA and a pair of shutouts. She ranks 46th in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings.
Kent State's current RPI is 111 of 289 Division I teams. Thirteen of the Flashes' games played have come against opponents with higher RPIs.
Senior Jess Blanton (Wheelersburg, Ohio) is hitting .404 with runners on base and .409 with runners in scoring position.
The Opponent
Robert Morris - The Colonials have won 11 of their last 13 games, scoring eight or more runs in six of those victories. Freshman left-hander Nicole Sleith is 13-9 with three saves, a 2.03 ERA and 126 strikeouts. Senior Sarah Capp is hitting .347 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Freshman Sam Santillo is batting .342 with four home runs and 19 RBI. She was recently named Northeast Conference Player of the Week. Senior Jaci Timko carries a team best .414 on-base percentage.
MAC Honors
Johnson was named Mid-American Conference Co-East Division Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday. In four conference appearances this past weekend, Johnson went 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and complete game victories in each of her two starts. For the entire week, Johnson went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23.1 innings.
Sophomore Abbey Ledford (West Liberty, Ohio) was named MAC East Player of the Week on Feb. 29.
Team & MAC Leaders
Ledford and Holt lead the team with four homers. Ledford has a team-high 23 runs scored, which ranks sixth in the MAC. Her 23 RBI are seventh.
Blanton has a team best .353 batting average, a .434 on-base percentage, which ranks 10th in the MAC and a .500 slugging percentage.
Laughlin and Holt are tied for third in the MAC in doubles per game.
Johnson carries a team best ERA of 1.79, which ranks third in the MAC. She has thrown four shutouts, which is tied for first in the conference. Her 13 complete games are tied for second and her 125 strikeouts are third.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will host four Mid-American Conference games this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader Friday against Bowling Green. The Golden Flashes will host single games against Toledo Saturday and Sunday.
