Flashes Improve to 3-1 at Weekend Tournament
3/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CONWAY, S.C. - Kent State (11-12) improved to 3-1 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational with two victories Saturday at Coastal Carolina University Softball Field. Behind a pair of two-run homers in the first inning, the Golden Flashes topped Longwood 5-4. KSU then scored six runs in the first two innings in a 6-3 triumph over St. John's.
"We did everything better today," Head Coach Karen Linder said. "We made some very good plays defensively and the top of order was a real spark plug for us in both games."
Senior Leah Archual led off the opening game with a walk and freshman Lauren Grimes quickly made it a 2-0 lead with her fifth round-tripper of the year to left-center field. Beth Cinadr was hit by a pitch and Jess Carmichael followed with a home run to left, to make it 4-0 four batters into the game.
Archual led off the second with a triple down the right field line and scored on a single through the left side.
"Scoring those runs early really set the tone for us today," Linder said.
Getting run support early, freshman starter Danielle Abernathy allowed just one run in her first three innings. She held Longwood scoreless in the third despite four hits in the frame, with the help of sophomore catcher Jess Blanton, who threw out a runner attempting to steal second and Grimes, who threw out a runner at the plate from left field.
"I don't know if I've ever seen our outfielders make so many big plays in one day," Linder said of the outfield's four assists in two games. "Lauren (Grimes) and Leah did a great job of getting to the ball and hitting their targets right on the money."
Longwood added a run in the fourth on a pair of hits and a two out, two-run double by Ashley Kramer in the fifth led to Abernathy's exit. Senior Kylie Reynolds took over and fanned the next batter. Reynolds struck out four more in the sixth and seventh innings and left the tying run on second base to close out the game.
"Danielle had a harder time the third time through the lineup," Linder said. "But Kylie came in and shut them down."
With 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, Reynolds earned her third save of the year. Abernathy improved to 3-1 on the year. Grimes went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in.
The Flashes struck early again in game two. Cinadr put KSU on the board with her sixth homer of the season in the bottom of the first. Carmichael then walked, moved over on a single by Ashlee Hein and scored on a passed ball.
KSU took advantage of three walks and a hit-by-pitch to tack on four more runs in the second. An RBI single by Grimes made it a 4-0 game and knocked Longwood starter Kat Lawrence out of the game. A sac fly by Carmichael and an RBI single from Hein opened the lead up to 6-0.
Reynolds got the start and held the Red Storm hitless in the first two innings. St. John's put up a runs in the third and had solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings, but Reynolds never broke down. She allowed five total hits and struck out seven to earn her seventh win of the year.
Cinadr went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Grimes and Hein each went 2-for-4. The KSU defense did not commit an error in either game.
"Both catchers did a fantastic job of keeping of keeping the ball in front of them," Linder said of Blanton and Hein. "There were a lot of balls in the dirt and up high."
"We stayed mentally strong in both games," Linder added.
Grimes totaled five hits on the day.
"She plays hard every day," Linder said of Grimes. "She has the right mentality an has been pretty consistent. If she has one down game, it motivates her and she comes back ready to go the next game."
The Golden Flashes will play a rematch with St. John's Sunday at 1:30 followed by a 3:45 game with tournament host Coastal Carolina.
