Flashes to Play Single Game with Pittsburgh Wednesday
3/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Coming off a doubleheader sweep of Bethune-Cookman last week, Kent State will host Pittsburgh (23-7) Wednesday in its home opener at the Diamond at Dix. The Golden Flashes are hitting .293 as a team and have knocked 59 extra base hits in 25 games. Despite a 9-16 record, KSU has scored the same number of runs as their opponents this season (138-138).
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Live Stats
Live stats for both games will be available at kentstatesports.com. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
Trio of Freshmen Making Major Impact
Freshmen Abbey Ledford and Alex Marcantonio are among the best hitters in the lineup this season, while classmate Lauren McNeil holds the lowest ERA on the pitching staff.
Ledford was named Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week Tuesday. Last week in Florida, Ledford raised her team-leading batting average to .404 after hitting .700 in three games.
In a doubleheader sweep of Bethune-Cookman on March 24, Ledford went 6-for-7 with three runs scored and three runs batted in. She has moved into the starting role at second base and recently moved up to the number six spot in the batting order. One week earlier, she hit .429 with two doubles over five games. Also a power threat, Ledford has belted three home runs and two doubles in 18 games started on the year. She has scored 12 runs and driven in 11.
Marcantonio has hit. 500 or better in two different weekends of competition. Playing three games at the Marshall Invitational, Marcantonio went 5-for-10 with two doubles. One weekend earlier, she went 6-for-11 (.545) with six walks, a double and six runs scored, giving her a .722 on-base percentage and an .822 slugging percentage. Marcantonio has started all 25 games, playing left field and shortstop. She is hitting .370 on the year with five doubles and carries a .511 on-base percentage.Â
McNeil did not see action during the Flashes' eight games in Florida due to injury. Prior to spring break, she led the KSU staff with 54.1 innings pitched. At the Marshall Invitational, she tossed 8.1 innings against the Thundering Herd, allowing two earned runs with five strikeouts. One week earlier, she earned two victories at Florida Atlantic. Against FAU, she struck out a season-high eight. She has fanned 35 on the year and carries a team best 3.35 ERA. At the Pirate Classic, McNeil allowed only four earned runs in 14 innings.Â
The Opposition
Pittsburgh is coming off a doubleheader split with Penn State on Tuesday. Senior pitcher Cory Berliner allowed just one run in a complete game win against the Nittany Lions. Berliner improved to 7-2 on the year and became Pitt's career win leader. Junior catcher Kelly Hmiel went 2-for-3 in the win with a double. Hmiel is hitting .375 on the year with eight home runs and 31 RBI. Three other Panther starters are hitting .325 or better. Three pitchers on Pitt's staff have combined on a 1.15 team ERA. Senior Alyssa O'Connell has tossed six shutouts.
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Cinadr Marching Over Opposing Pitchers
In Kent State's 11 games during the month of March, senior Beth Cinadr is hitting .512 (21-for-41) with seven doubles and 11 runs batted in. Four of those doubles came at the South Florida Invitational, including two in a 4-1 win over Rutgers. Cinadr went 3-for-3 against the Scarlet Knights with an RBI.
Cinadr and Lauren Grimes each have nine doubles on the season, which is tied for second in the MAC.
Jess Carmichael smashed her team-leading seventh home run of the season against Bethune-Cookman, raising her career total to 32. She ranks second in the MAC in homers and second among KSU's career home run leaders, trailing only Jamie Fitzpatrick who finished with 36. Earlier this month, she wa named MAC East Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive season.
The Golden Flashes are 0-8 in one-run games this season and 0-4 in extra-inning contests.
Sophomore Danielle Abernathy went 2-0 in two scoreless appearances at Bethune-Cookman last Wednesday.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes open up Mid-American Conference play on the road with a doubleheader at Bowling Green Friday. KSU will play single games at Toledo Saturday and Sunday.
