Flashes Sweep Vikings in Dramatic Fashion
4/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CLEVELAND
- Kylie Reynolds and Gabrielle Burns put on a pitching clinic as Kent State swept a pair of tight games from Cleveland State Wednesday (April 30) at Viking Field. Jess Carmichael's solo homer made the difference in a 1-0 game one victory, while Carmichael's eighth inning single scored the go-ahead run in a 3-0 game two win for the Golden Flashes (36-10).
"She had clutch hits in both games," Head Coach Karen Linder said of Carmichael. "That's the type of hitter she is. She's a confident hitter that doesn't mind being in a clutch situation."
Reynolds (19-4) and Burns (16-5) each threw their second straight shutout, the eighth of the year for Reynolds and seventh for Burns, whose came with a little more drama. With the score still knotted 0-0 in game two, the Vikings loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. However, Burns and KSU infield refused to budge.
Jessica Burt led off a wild seventh with a bunt single for the Horizon League leading Vikings (28-15). Christa Coppus followed with a single up the middle. Amanda Houchin then laid down a bunt single of her own to load the bases. The next batter hit a short dribbler that Ashlee Hein fielded and tagged home for out number one. The Vikings then attempted a suicide squeeze with Amy Powell at the plate. Houchin headed for the plate, but Powell missed her bunt attempt and Hein caught Houchin in a run-down. Burns then struck out Powell swinging to give the Flashes new life.
"They really weren't hitting Gabe other than bunts," Linder said of the suicide squeeze attempt. "So it didn't surprise me that they tried it. The infield was heads up and ready for it."
Carrying momentum into the eighth, pinch hitter Holly Finchum slapped a single to the back of the infield dirt to start a rally, while Kim Hamilton reached on a one out bunt single. Carmichael then delivered a clutch single up the middle to score the game's first run. A wild pitch scored Hamilton and a sac fly to center by Jessica Toocheck scored Carmichael to give the Flashes a three-run lead.
Burns fanned the first nine batters she faced, finishing with 13 strikeouts and no walks over eight innings.
In a game one matchup of two of the region's top pitchers, Viking ace Amanda Macenko opposed Reynolds and held the Flashes hitless for 4.1 innings.
Cleveland State was held hitless in its first eight plate appearances before Natalie Dematteis poked a single to left in the third. Reynolds however, stranded a runner in both the third and fourth frames without harm.
The Flashes' first hit did not come until the fifth, but Carmichael made it count, lifting a one out solo blast over the right field fence.
CSU threatened in the sixth with two runners on and one out before Toocheck single handedly prevented the Vikings from scoring. After scooping a routine ground ball for out number two, Toocheck made a fully-extended diving stop up the middle and threw to second from the ground.
Katelyn Ciminelli led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to right center, but Reynolds retired three straight to end the game. Reynolds fanned six, allowing four hits and one walk. She has not allowed an earned run in seven of her last eight starts.
"Both of our pitchers did a great job of shutting them down today," Linder said.
Carmichael finished with two of KSU's four hits in the opener and one of the team's six hits in game two. The Flashes did not commit an error in either game.
KSU's 36 victories are the second most in school history, trailing only the 1990 squad (43-9) that advanced to the College World Series.
The Golden Flashes will close out their regular season this weekend with a doubleheader against MAC West leader Central Michigan (25-14, 14-3 MAC) on Friday (May 2) and single games against Eastern Michigan Saturday and Sunday (May 3-4).
