Thursday MAC Softball Live Blog
5/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Finchum dives for a ball in left but can't quite grab it...WMU wins 3-2...Flashes are now scheduled to play at 1 p.m. tomorrow against Northern Illinois.
With an 0-2 count Fuller hits one over the fence, but just foul
Germaine makes a nice play on a bunt, but the runner moves to second with 2 down
Reynolds gets Reist swinging
Whitney draws a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 7th and a pinch runner comes in.
Hair pinch hits for Brocklehurst and strikes out swinging.
Archual pokes one into left...The left fielder gets there quickly and Duhon will not attempt to round third...Archual makes it to second.
Finchum fouls off a couple off with 2 strikes before grounding out to the pitcher...Duhon moves to second with 2 outs in the 7th.
Germaine hits a fly ball to center for the first out, but the center fielder definitely had trouble finding it. These players aren't used to being under hte lights.
A pitch going behind Duhon hits her in the back foot and she takes first
Jager smacks a hard liner to left, but right at Finchum...Still tied 2-2 after 6 as the Flashes breathe a big sigh of relief
Sayres falls behind Reynolds 0-2, fouls a few off takes 3 straight balls, fouls 2 more off and pops out to Germaine
Another bunt moves the runners to second and third...This time Germaine makes the play
A good bunt on the left side goes for an infield hit...Germaine doesn't even attempt a throw
Bendewald draws a full count walk and Linder is out of the dugout asking about it...I've never seen her question this many calls
It's official- Ohio and Akron will now play tomorrow at 11 a.m....The first of 5 possible games on the day
A fine play by the second baseman to field the ball up the middle and throw out Wheeler at first to end the threat
Jones hits a deep fly...A great play by the right fielder to make the catch and throw out Carmichael trying to tag...A close play at the plate...Linder argues the call...Why didn't Carmichael jsut slide?
Starr the pinch runner steals second without a throw
Hein bounces one over the third baseman's head to put runners on first and third...no outs.
A high pop-up is dropped by the third baseman and Carmichael makes it to second...Even an accurate throw to second could have gotten the out giving Carmichael 2 breaks on the play
Carmichael was up last inning when Brock was caught stealing...She will start the KSU sixth
Lauren Fuller looks at 5 straight pitches for a full count and grounds one to Duhon who fields it and tags the runner to end the fifth
Another one goes down swinging...After her eighth strikeout, Reynolds allows a walk
Reynolds strikes out her counterpart Whitney swinging
Timeout as Chelsey Jones needs to put a contact back in at first
This time Kent State gets thrown out trying to steal second and we go to the bottom of the fifth
Brock beats out a ground ball to second
Archual swings at strike 3...2 down
Finchum lays down a pretty good bunt, but Whitney throws her out by a step
Reynolds walks Jager, who goes on the first and Hein guns her down...Carmichael makes the tag to end the inning and my my how the momentum has shifted
Germaine chases one down in foul territory and Archual runs one down in center...2 quick outs.
Germaine strikes out swinging to end the rally.
Duhon bloops one toward center that just misses the glove of a diving center fielder...We're tied at 2
Wheeler lines a single into left and suddenly this offense has come to life
Jones walks on a 3-2 pitch.
Hein gets way under a pitch and flies out to right.
The call fired up the team and fired up Carmichael who belts her second homer of the day and the Flashes' first hitof the game and it's 2-1.
In what would have been a base hit for Brock...She is called for steppign out of the bater's box and there's 1 down...Linder has a long talk with the home plate ump
Another Bronco goes down swinging to leave the bases loaded and the Flashes are lucky to only be down 2-0 after 3.
Reynolds gets ahead of the batter 0-2 and catches her looking at the 1-2 pitch
A walk loads the bases ans Densevich and Linder both head to the circle
On what appeared to be a foul ball to several of us in the grandstand...it goes for a double down the right field line and WMU has runners on second and third.
Reynolds gets another one looking before Reist puts one through the left side.
Archual grounds out to short to end the inning...Flashes still looking for their first hit
Germaine draws a walk on a 3-2 pitch, she's the Flashes' first base runner...Finchum moves her over with a bunt
Duhon swings at a strike 3 change-up
The Akron and Ohio teams hope this game moves along quickly to get their game in tonight which must start before 10.
Pitching coach Amy Densevich makes a visit to the circle and the next batter pops up to Carmichael in shallow left
Reynolds catches Vargocko (leadoff hitter) looking and walks Sayres...2 on 2 out
A long drive to left, Finchum takes the outfield fence out and can't hold onto the ball...it goes as a triple...McBride then puts one through the left side to make it 2-0.
Reynolds gets another one swinging.
Jones swings and misses for strike 3 and Wheeler hits an easy pop-up to first. Bronco starter Meredith Whitney has retired all 6 batters.
Hein swings at a high one for strike 3.
A foul to Hein for the second out and Reynolds fans the next batter to get out of the inning with just 1 run
Jager reaches on an error..the throw sails over the head of Jones to put runners on second and third...A ball four wild pitch scores a run and it's 1-0 already with runners on first and third.
Vargocko singles to left and the next batter bunts her over...1 down
Carmichael goes down swinging and it's a 1-2-3 top of the first...Reynolds will now get a chance to redeem herself against the Broncos after suffering 2 losses against them over the weekend.
Brock is called for bunt foul with 2 strikes and there's 2 down.
Archual leads off the game with a foul out in left field on a 2-2 count.
Kent State's starting lineup will be exactly the same as the Akron game.
Miami wins 2-1...We won't start right at 7:35, but hopefully by 7:45.
We've got a crazy one going on right now...Ball State just left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth...Both coaches were out on the field in the same inning to argue separate calls.
I feel like a politician here but 7:35 is the new official start time for the Flashes and Broncos
The loser of the Kent State vs. Western Michigan game will take on Northern Illinois in an elimination game, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. We've had just a little bit of rain so far today and we're keeping our fingers crossed.
The Ball State vs. Miami game was originally scheduled for 5:15...It will be bumped back just a bit. Northern Illinois has defeated Bowling Green 9-4 and the Falcons are the first team to go home.
Kent State will take on the Broncos at 7:15...The Flashes will be the visiting team. The late game- Akron vs. Ohio is slated for 9:15...the latest they could start is 10 p.m. or it would be moved to Friday morning at 10 a.m.
Western Michigan defeated Ohio 6-1, which means all top four seeds earned opening round victories.
Bowling Green and Northern Illinois were supposed to start at 2, that obviously hasn't happened. A 3:00 start for that game would be more realistic, which means KSU's game probably won't start until closer to 7.
In the middle of the fifth Western Michigan leads Ohio 3-0...Flashes could be lookig at their third meeting with the Broncos in the last six games.
In fitting fashion Reynolds gets the strikeout swinging...12 on the day...FLASHES WIN 3-1...They are slated to play again at 6 p.m....weather and other games could push that time back.
McLean strikes out on a check swing appeal to first...2 down
Heather Bauer pinch hits to start the season and strikes out swinging...# 10 for Reynolds....Germaine fields a slow grounder and the throw to first is apparently not in time...a very close play...1 on 1 out in the 7th
2 well-hit fouls puts Hair behind 0-2 and she strikes out swinging.
Germaine bunts and moves Wheeler to second...Hair will hit for Finchum with 2 out.
Wheeler leads off with an infield single...Duhon swings at strike 3 in the dirt
A pop-up to Carmichael strands 2 and the Flashes catch a huge break in the inning, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits.
Germaine grabs an easy pop-up before another Akron single...this one to center.
The next batter singles up the middle and it's 3-1...the Zips now have 3 hits in the inning.
A wild pitch gets past Hein but she gets a very friendly bounce off the backstop as the runner heads toward the plate...Hein throws to Reynolds, who makes the tag...1 down.
A single just past Carmichael and a double down the left field line puts runners on second and third with no outs for Akron in the sixth.
Jones flies out to left to end the 5th.
Carmichael also homered off Arney (her former H.S. teammate) during the regular season...Hein goe s down swinging
Bombs away...Carmichael blasts a no-doubter to left center with one out in the bottom of the fifth and it's 3-0
A well hit ball to left center and Archual runs it down for the third out.
A nice scoop and throw by Germaine for out #2
Reynolds gets her 9th K of the day...No. 857 for her career...congratulations to Kylie...well deserved.
Archual grounds out to third and it's still 2-0 after 4.
Germaine goes down swinging for the 1st out...Finchum moves the runners over with a bunt to the pitcher...runners in scoring position with 2 down for Archual
Wheeler hits a hard single up the middle...Duhon squares for a bunt and the third baseman comes so far in that the hard bunt down the line gets past her.
And for the 4th straight inning, the Zips third out is a strikeout swinging....Reynolds has now tied Brittney Robinson with 856 career strikeouts.
Hansen pops one up to shallow right...Duhon stumbles a bit on the lip of the outfield grass but makes the catch for out #2
Reynolds catches Stratton looking a 3-2 pitch...Feltes then hits a single up the middle
Hein goes down swinging at a pitch away and in the dirt...Carmichael would have stolen second but slides over the bag and gets tagged out...Jones hits one 5 feet in front out the catcher and gets thrown out for the third out...After 3 it's 2-0 Flashes.
Carmichael drills a couple of foul balls which may have scared Arney from throwing another strike...she takes ball 4.
Once again Reynolds ends the inning with a strikeout swinging, she's 3-for-3 in that department and already has 6 today.
McLean hits an easy infield bloop to Duhon for the second out... the next batter reaches with the Zips' second bunt single of the day
A well hit ball right at Carmichael for the 1st out of the third.
Archual starts to swing at the pitch and is hit by the pitch...She takes first...Akron coach Julie Jones comes out for a discussion with the umps before Brocklehurst hits a hard grounder to first to end the inning.
After a pitch in the dirt, Finchum takes second
A number of Flashes have made very good contact on foul balls...a good sign....Finchum draws a walk
Duhon is thrown at first on a slow grounder to short and Germaine flies out to shallow left.
Reynolds is doing a great job of staying ahead in the count and after 2 innings she has 5 strikeouts
Reynolds fans another, this one looking.
Feltes, 5-hole hitter goes down swinging...The next batter lays a bunt down the 1st base line, Jones fields, tries to apply the tag and apparently misses...Her throw to first is not in time.
Wheeler runs the count full, fouls 2 more off before watching a called strike 3 on the outside corner...The zone appears to be wide so far, which could be a good sign for Reynolds.
Jones grounds a ball to third and Hein gets caught in between the bases...After a quick game of pickle, she's tagged out, but Jones makes it to second,
Hein falls behind 0-2, evens the count at 2-2, waits on a chag-up and drills it off the center field fence for a double...Both runners score as the throw to the plate a little off-line.
With an 0-2 count, Brock gets hit in the leg and takes first...Carmichael swings at a high pitch for strike 3.
Archual leads off with a double to deep right center...How does she hit it that far off her front foot?
Reynolds sits down Akron's 3 & 4 hitters swinging and strands the runner at second...She now only needs 7 more catch Brittney Robinson as KSU's career leader
Stromack tries to move her over with a bunt, but pops it up to Reynolds...so McLean gets to second on her own with a stolen base and a close call at second.
A very lively Akron dugout on the first base side for leadoff hitter Lisa McLean, who falls behind 0-2, battles back to 2-2 and lines a single into left
After the Whitney Houston rendition of the national anthem (which she was lip synching at Super Bowl XXV) we are ready to get started
The field is in pretty good shape and it looks like we will start very close to 10.
Andrea Arney will be the starting pitcher for the Zips...she started both games against the Flashes during the regular season...And did very well in the Saturday game before getting roughed up in the Sunday game...Heather Bauer is also a very viable option at pitcher for the Zips if Arney gets in trouble.
Reminders: Live stats for all tournament games can be found at the link below
http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=3708395
If the Flashes advance past today's games, all other games can be heard on the K-Zone
KSU's starting lineup
1. Archual, CF
2. Brocklehurst, DP
3. Carmichael, SS
4. Hein, C
5. Jones, 1B
6. Wheeler, RF
7. Duhon, 2B
8. Germaine, 3B
9. Finchum, LF
Flex- Reynolds, P
The MAC postseason award ceremony today is scheduled to follow the conclusion of today's second game: Western Michigan vs. Ohio
The sun is shining today (at least for now). And we're still on for a 10 a.m. start...Special thanks to the Kent State wrestling team pulling the heavy tarp off last night and getting rid of most of the water beyond the outfield fence.
