Kent State to play twin bill against Cleveland State
4/29/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
KENT, Ohio - The Kent State softball team (23-17-1, 13-5) takes a break from Mid-American Conference play to welcome Horizon League opponent Cleveland State (18-22, 9-7) for a 3 p.m./5 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday (April 30) at the Diamond at Dix. Here's a quick look at some key storylines surrounding the Golden Flashes as the regular season winds down this week:
REWIND: Kent State enters play this week with a two game lead in the MAC East Division after a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo, 4-1 and 7-6 in 11 innings, at the Diamond at Dix on April 27. Sophomore right-hander Emma Johnson earned both wins against the Bulls. She started and allowed no earned runs on four hits in seven innings to win the opener, then allowed no earned runs on five hits in seven innings of long relief to win the 11-inning nightcap. Sophomore right fielder Kim Kirkpatrick went 2 for 5 with two RBI, including the game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th, to lead the Golden Flashes to the 7-6 win. Junior designated player Jessacca Gironda, batting leadoff for the first time this season, went 2 for 5 with a run scored. Senior first baseman Lauren Balodis clubbed a towering shot to center for her second home run of the season. Sophomore left fielder Dani Ramos went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and one RBI in the 4-1 win over the Bulls. Earlier in the week, the Golden Flashes lost a narrow 2-1 decision on April 24 at Big Ten opponent Penn State. Johnson pitched well despite the loss, allowing just two hits and two earned runs with nine strikeouts in six innings. The Penn State matchup was originally scheduled as a doubleheader, but inclement weather permitted only one game. The Golden Flashes avoided weather issues with Buffalo as they were originally scheduled to play a two-game series with single games on Saturday (April 27) and Sunday (April 28), but made the decision to play two on Saturday with inclement weather forecast on Sunday.
POWER ARM: Johnson is 18-9 with a 1.67 ERA in 175.2 innings this spring. She has 179 strikeouts to just 65 walks and has 18 complete games in 31 appearances. Opposing batters are hitting a paltry .187 against Johnson, a three-time MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week this season.
OFFENSE...PLEASE: Kent State has a team batting average of .229 with eight home runs. When the Flashes score runs, though, they're dangerous. The Flashes are 15-4 when they score at least three runs and 4-1 when they score at least six runs.
BATTER UP: Kirkpatrick leads the club with a .325 batting average, 24 runs scored, 41 hits, nine doubles, three home runs and a .468 slugging percentage. Kirkpatrick is third on the team with 15 RBI. Additionally, Kirkpatrick is one of only three players to have started all 41 games. Senior center fielder Lauren Grimes and junior second baseman Abbey Ledford are the others.
CHASING HISTORY: Grimes is near the top of several Kent State career categories. She stands second all-time with 192 hits (Pauline Maurice, 219, 1988-91); tied for second with 639 at-bats (Jess Carmichael, 641, 2008-11); tied for second with 39 doubles (Jamie Kraus, 41, 1998-00); and third with 129 runs (Kim Hamilton, 140, 2005-08).
ON DECK: Kent State travels Friday (May 3) for a key 1 p.m./3 p.m. MAC East doubleheader at Miami (Ohio).
