Softball On the Hunt for 2004 MAC Tournament Title
5/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
With its Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division title in the books, the Kent State University softball team (26-18, 15-6 MAC) will be looking to capture its first MAC Tournament title in school history at the 2004 MAC Softball Tournament at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio May 13-15. The Flashes, the No. 2 seed, will play the winner of No. 3 Western Michigan University (30-24, 17-7 MAC) and No. 6 Bowling Green State University (29-27, 13-11 MAC) at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at 5 p.m. Live stats will be available for the duration of the tournament by logging on to www.mac-sports.com.
The MAC Tournament is a six-team, double elimination format, with the champion receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The MAC Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, May 15, at 1:30 p.m.
MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: This is the first time Kent State has reached the tournament since 2001 and will mark their first time playing at Firestone Stadium in the postseason since the conference tournament moved to Akron. KSU tallied a 6-2 win over the University of Akron in the historic stadium April 18. The Golden Flashes hold an 8-11 (.421) all-time record in the MAC Tournament.
SCOUTING THE MAC TOURNAMENT FIELD: Kent State has a combined 6-4 record against the teams in the MAC Tournament field. The Flashes took two games from Bowling Green, 2-of-3 games against Ohio and Miami and went 0-of-2 against Central Michigan. KSU did not face Western Michigan during the regular season.
Kent State leads the the series against WMU 29-23. The Broncos are led by Jaymie Voss, who is batting .342 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI, while Kristi Strange is hitting .333. Western Michigan ace Laura Stewart is 21-12 in circle with a 1.78 ERA and a league-leading 225 strikeouts. The Broncos are coached by Kathy Leitke (Central Michigan 85).
The Flashes hold a 46-37-1 all-time advantage over Bowling Green. Gina Rango is tied for first in the league in doubles (15), ranks second in batting average (.365), hits (65), slugging percentage (.612) and is tied for third in home runs (9). Pitcher Liz Vrabel is tied for third in the MAC in ERA (1.46) and fifth in Ks (161). Leigh Ross-Shaw (Toledo 92) coaches the Falcons.
Miami leads the all-time series 35-42, although KSU won 2-of-3 games against the RedHawks during the regular season. Becca Garcia leads the team with a .349 hitting clip while Bianca Paz has a .331 batting average with 12 doubles. Jackie Poggendorf is second in the conference with a 1.45 earned-run average. The RedHawks are coached by Angie Jacobs (California 89).
The Chippewas are 37-24 all-time against the Flashes and won both games against KSU April 15. Amber Puchalski is 21-12 in the circle with an 1.66 ERA. She also leads the MAC in wins (21) and ranks second in strikeouts (222) and opponent batting average (.179). Christin Sobeck leads Central Michigan at the plate with a .333 batting average. Margo Jonker (Grand Valley 76) coaches the Chippewas.
In the all-time Kent State-Ohio series, the Flashes lead, 44-32. Kent State went 2-1 against the Bobcats during the 2004 season. Erin Chapman leads with a .341 hitting clip, 36 RBI and eight home runs while Kiersten Scrima is batting .305 and is third in the conference with 13 doubles. In the circle, Natalie Armstrong is 7-6 with a 2.12 ERA.
AKRON WEATHER: Although the temperature is predicted to reach as high as 80 degrees this week for the 2004 MAC Softball Tournament, the weather forecast also calls for scattered thunderstorms Thursday evening through Friday.
FLASHES FIGHT BACK WITH 8-5 WIN OVER MARSHALL: Kent State recorded 11 hits against Marshall University with an 8-5 victory to close out its three-game series with the Herd May 9 at Dot Hicks Field. MU took 2-of-3 games against KSU by scores of 2-0 and 8-0 in five innings.
The Flashes made use of MUs three errors in the opening set to score five runs in the first. Senior Marci Ridenbaugh (Canton, Ohio/South) led of with a double down the left field line before senior Kelly Maehl (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy) reached on an error. Ridenbaugh then scored after Maehl stole second then advanced on another error by Marshall. Then with two outs, senior Tracie Logar (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) singled to score Maehl before junior Jodi Stevens (McCutchenville, Ohio/Mohawk) reached first on the Herds third error. Then back-to-back doubles by freshmen Brittney Robinson (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) and Megan Verde (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) made the score 5-0.
Marshall came back with a vengeance in the third as the Herd recorded four runs on four hits to come within one, 5-4.
Then in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded, sophomore Ashley Ball (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) scored the game-winner for KSU on senior Carrie Eneixs (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) single before senior Rachel Testas (Rootstown, Ohio/Hoban) sneaky single down the left field line scored Ridenbaugh for Kent States 7-4 edge.
The Flashes notched one more run in the top of the sixth as Maehl reached second from her single and an error by the leftfielder. After Eneix was hit by Marshalls pitcher, Maehl scored on another error by the Herds second baseman.
Marshall added one to the scoreboard in the seventh when Amanda Williams crossed home from a wild pitch.
Verde led the Flashes, going 2-for-3, with two doubles and an RBI while Ridenbaugh went 2-for-4. Robinson tallied her ninth win in the circle.
RED-HOT FLASHES: After getting swept by Central Michigan April 15, Kent State went on a nine-game winning streak until May 1, when the Flashes lost 3-0 to Miami. In that nine-game stretch, KSU batted .283, averaging 7.11 hits per contest with eight home runs. In the circle, the Flashes pitching unit recorded an 0.83 ERA with 45 strikeouts and only eight earned runs. Kent State have been winners of 12 of its last 15 games.
SENIOR DAY: Prior to KSUs doubleheader against Ball State University April 28, the Flashes recognized seniors Carrie Eneix (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington), Kelly Maehl (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy), Kate Leary (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington), Tracie Logar (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald), Marci Ridenbaugh (Canton, Ohio/South), Rachel Testa (Rootstown, Ohio/Hoban) and Molly Kubin (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) for their contributions to the Kent State softball program.
RALLY QUEENS: Many Kent State softball fans have had a rise in blood pressure after watching the Flashes against Ball State University and Miami. Three of their wins last weekend were come from behind victories late in the game. The Flashes scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 2-1 win over Ball State April 28. Then KSU fought back from back-to-back 2-0 deficits to win in a doubleheader against Miami by scores of 4-2 and 6-2 May 1. In game two, the Flashes notched two runs in the sixth to send the game to extra inning before recording four runs in the extra set.
ACES WILD: The Flashes are one of the top pitching teams in the conference, ranking second with a 1.76 earned-run average. Kent States pitching corps has held its opponents to a .227 batting average.
Individually, three KSU hurlers rank among the leagues top 20, including freshman Brittney Robinson (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) (t-third, 1.46 ERA) and seniors Tracie Logar (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) (sixth, 1.54 ERA) and Kate Leary (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) (14th, 1.90 ERA).
WHEN IT COUNTS: Although Kent State posts some impressive overall stats among the league, the Flashes have even better numbers in MAC games.
As a team, KSUs batting average improves from .236 (eighth) to .243 (sixth) while their fielding percentage increases from .963 (second) to .975 (first).
Individually, senior Carrie Eneix (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) is fifth with a .379 hitting clip. Junior third baseman Jodi Stevens (McCutchenville, Ohio/Mohawk) is tied for first in triples (2) and tied for seventh in home runs (3).
Senior pitcher Tracie Logar (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) has a 1.08 ERA (fourth), freshman Brittney Robinson (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) posts a 1.31 ERA (seventh) while senior Kate Leary (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) boasts a 1.72 ERA (13th).
FOUR FLASHES TAKE HOME WEEKLY CONFERENCE AWARDS: During the 2004 season, four Kent State players received Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division Player and Pitcher of the Year honors.
Senior pitcher Kate Leary (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) was named the first MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week for the 2004 season Feb. 24. This was Learys eighth weekly pitching accolode of her career.
Leary went 2-0 with a combined shutout at the UNC Triangle Classic Feb. 13-14. During a 2-0 win over Mercer University, she allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. In the 10-5 win over North Carolina State University, Leary gave up two earned runs on two hits and three walks. She posted a 1.40 ERA for the tournament.
Kent State then swept the MAC East Division Player of the Week awards for three weeks as junior third baseman Jodi Stevens (McCutchenville, Ohio/Mohawk), senior shortstop Marci Ridenbaugh and senior pitcher/designated player Tracie Logar (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) were selected from April 18-May 3. Logar also was named the MAC East Pitcher of the Week May 3, becoming the first player to take both awards in the same week since softball split to divisional play in 1998.
Stevens led Kent State to a 3-2 record and a three-game sweep over the University of Akron when she was honored April 18. She batted .364 (4-for-11) with three homers, four RBI and four runs.
Stevens first home run was the difference in the Golden Flashes 1-0 victory over Akron in game one. In game two, with Kent State clinging to a 1-0 lead, Stevens provided the knockout punch with her second solo home run of the day. She completed the home-run hat trick when she launched a solo home run for the third straight game to put the Golden Flashes up 2-0. Stevens fourth hit of the weekend was a bases-loaded single that made the score in game three 4-0.
Ridenbaugh was selected April 26 after she recorded at least one hit in all four games on the week, batting .545 (6-for-11) with one double, two RBI and three stolen bases. She drove in two runs, including the game-winning run and stole two bases during KSUs 7-2 victory over Bowling Green State University April 21. Ridenbaugh also went 4-for-6 as the Flashes swept the University of Toledo by scores of 7-2 and 3-2 in a non-conference doubleheader April 23.
Logar was instrumental for KSU on both sides of the ball for Kent State. During KSUs 8-2 win over Ball State April 28, Logar launched the game-winning home run, a three-run shot in the first inning, and pitched five innings, surrendering four hits for the win. She finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and four RBI, including a double.
During Kent States 4-2 win against Miami, she pitched three innings for her fourth save of the year, fanning three batters on two hits. Then Logars two-run single in game two against the RedHawks sent the game into extra innings as the Flashes went on to win 6-2. She also notched the win for Kent State in the circle as she went three innings, giving up only one hit and one intentional walk.
On the week, she batted .333 (5-for-15) with six RBI, two doubles and one home run at the plate while going 2-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA in the circle. For her efforts, Logar also received the female MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week accolade May 4.
IN THE BOOKS: Senior shortstop Marci Ridenbaugh (Canton, Ohio/South) became Kent States all-time stolen bases and at-bats leader during the regular season. She currently has 69 career steals and 600 at-bats. She also ranks among the schools top 10 in hits (2nd, 180), runs (3rd, 102), batting avg (10th, .300) and walks (T-10th, 43). Since arriving on campus, Ridenbaugh has started in every single game at shortstop for Kent State.
Senior pitcher Kate Leary (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) became the first pitcher in school history to record 500 career strikeouts this season. On the schools career list she is first in strikeouts (543), second in appearances (110), third in winning percentage (.600), fourth in innings pitched (544), wins (45) and starts (75), fifth in shutouts (16) and 10th in earned-run average (1.92).
UP NEXT: The winner of the 2004 MAC Softball Tournament will earn an automatic berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
