Flashes Slug Their Way to Sweep of Robert Morris
3/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
KENT, Ohio - The Golden Flash lineup took full advantage of its first competition at home as Kent State thumped Robert Morris 10-2 and 7-2 in a doubleheader sweep Wednesday (March 26) at the Diamond at Dix. In a two-inning span, KSU (17-7) scored 10 runs on eight hits in the opening game and blasted five home runs in the game two, including back-to-back-to-back dingers in the third inning.
Starters Gabrielle Burns and Kylie Reynolds each improved to 8-3 on the season after giving the Colonials (7-9) trouble throughout the day. Freshman Jess Carmichael finished the afternoon with two homers, four hits and four RBI. The KSU offense was slow in getting started, but Burns held the Colonials hitless in the first three innings of the opener. RMU's lineup came alive in the fourth when Brooke Panepinto homered to right field and the next two batters doubled to center to give the Colonials a 2-0 lead. "Consecutive hits like that hasn't happened to Gabe all year," Head Coach Karen Linder said. "But she did a good job of recovering from it." Kalie Germaine ripped a double into left to begin a fifth inning to remember for the Flashes. With two on, two out and one run already in, Jessica Toocheck belted a two-run double into center field to give KSU a 3-2 lead. A pair of walks then loaded the bases for Amy Hair, who lifted a grand slam over the left field fence. It was Hair's first homer of the season and the fifth hit of the inning for Kent State. After Burns retired the side in the top of the sixth, the KSU offense continued to pour it on. Carmichael and Kim Hamilton each singled and Corey Houk smacked a double into right center for the run rule to take effect after six innings. "Our pitching staff is so strong right now," Hair said. "They give us so much confidence in the field and at the plate. Burns fanned seven and allowed three hits in six frames. "We all have good pitches," Burns said of the staff. "We just need to stay low in the zone." With Reynolds in the circle for game two, the Flashes put up a run in the first and four in the third thanks to three consecutive homers from Carmichael, Toocheck and Jamie Fitzpatrick. Carmichael's came with a runner on and Fitzpatrick's first longball of the year gave Kent State a 5-0 lead. Carmichael homered again to lead off the bottom of the fifth and Chelsey Jones went deep for the first time this season to lead off the sixth. Reynolds struck out 10 batters, all swinging and allowed just two hits in five innings of work. Freshman Markie Pozzuto tossed the final two frames and allowed RMU's only runs of the game in the seventh. "Kylie had control right from the start," Linder said. "We know she's capable of having games like this." Fitzpatrick, who had struggled to start the year, finished the day 3-for-5 with two walks. Toocheck joined Hair and Carmichael with four RBI on the day and Hamilton joined Fitzpatrick with three runs scored. In 13 innings the Kent State offense racked up 17 runs on 19 hits. The Golden Flashes will open Mid-American Conference play Friday, March 28, hosting a doubleheader with Bowling Green. The Falcons were picked to finished second in the MAC East in the conference's preseason poll.
