Fitzpatrick Launches Grand Slam in 6-3 Win
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
AKRON, Ohio
- Jamie Fitzpatrick's fifth inning grand slam vaulted Kent State into the MAC championship game as the Golden Flashes sent Ball State packing with a 6-3 victory Friday (May 9) at Firestone Stadium. Kylie Reynolds (24-4) hurled her 21st complete game of the season, while Jessica Toocheck's MAC Player of the Year status was well repected by Cardinals, who intentionally walked her to load the bases for Fitzpatrick.
Career victory number 600 could not have come at better time for Head Coach Karen Linder, who has led the Golden Flashes (43-10) to a season-high 11-game winning streak heading into Saturday's tournament title game.
The Flashes put up runs in the first and third innings, before a three-run homer by Abby Gross completely changed the complexion of the game. Reynolds was dominant through the beginning of the fourth inning, retiring six of her first 10 victims with strikeouts. However, a hit-by-pitch and a single that just squirted through the left side, put two runners on for Gross, who put her three-run shot off the top off the right center field fence and over.
The Flashes' four-run fifth began when Lauren Brocklehurst easily reached first base on a groundball in front of the cathcer. Kim Hamilton followed with a laser one-hopper over the left field fence for a ground rule double. The Cardinals then played with fire by intentionally walking Toocheck, who was already 2-for-2 with a homer and an RBI single. Fitzpatrick, KSU's all-time home run leader, lifted a moon shot to left field giving the Flashes a three-run lead.
"Throughout her career she's come through with big hits," Linder said. "It's like pick your poison with her and Toocheck."
With career homer number 36, Fitzpatrick became just one RBI short of the all-time record for runs driven in.
"I knew the pitcher would want to get ahead because the bases were loaded," Fitzpatrick said. "So I was ready for the first pitch."
Ball State sent the tying run to the plate in the seventh with a walk and a bloop single to shallow center, but Reynolds ended the game the same way she started it...with a strikeout. Reynolds finished with 12 punchouts and allowed just four hits.
Hamilton was grazed with a pitch to start the KSU first. The speedy leadoff hitter stole second and scored on a single up the middle by Toocheck. Two innings later, the senior shortstop lifted a no-doubter over the right field fence, her 11th homer of the season.
"I knew their pitcher liked to come inside on leftys," Toocheck said. "And she threw a curveball on the inside part of the plate."
The Golden Flashes 43 wins matches the school record set by KSU's 1990 College World Series Team.
Kent State will await the outcome of Bowling Green against Ohio in preparation for the MAC Tournament championship game Saturday at 3 p.m. The Bobcats defeated the Falcons 10-4 Friday night, forcing a deciding game Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
"It is special, but we plan to get a whole bunch more," Linder said of the 600. "We know it's going to be a battle tomorrow whoever we face."
