Stellar Pitching Performances Lead to Split with Top 10 Opponents for Kent State Softball

Saturday, February 22

Boca Raton, Fla.

9:00 a.m.

Kent State University

5-3

University of Kentucky

12-1

Kentucky

Kent State

Emma Johnson

Photo by: David Dermer

Stellar Pitching Performances Lead to Split with Top 10 Opponents for Kent State Softball

2/22/2014 5:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Kent State pitchers Emma Johnson and Ronnie Ladines were up to the challenge of facing two of the nation's top teams on Saturday at the Florida Atlantic Invitational and combined for 15.2 scoreless innings before allowing a run. After defeating No. 6/5 Kentucky (12-1) 3-0 in the morning, the Golden Flashes pushed No. 5/7 Michigan (11-2) to nine innings before falling 1-0.

"I am extremely proud of the entire team and how they responded to the challenge of playing two ranked opponents," head coach Karen Linder said. "We were much better in every phase of the game today. Emma and Ronnie had outstanding performances on the mound facing two excellent hitting teams and Erika Warren did an exceptional job behind the plate. It can be overlooked how important she is to our team, but she called two great games."

While Johnson (3-2) has also thrown many gems during her time at Kent State, Saturday's one-hit shutout of the fifth-ranked Wildcats moves unquestionably to the top of the list. The 2013 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year fanned 10 batters while allowing just three walks.

The Flashes provided early run support for their ace, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Junior Kim Kirkpatrick delivered a leadoff single and advanced to second after junior Dani Ramos walked. Two batters later, sophomore Shelbi Tilton plated Kirkpatrick and advanced Ramos to third with a single up the middle. An error by the Kentucky second baseman on a stolen base by Tilton allowed Ramos to score.

"Kim Kirkpatrick and Shelbi Tilton were big against Kentucky," Linder said. "Kim started a couple innings off by getting on base, which is what we needed. And then Shelbi was able to come through with clutch hits for her to score."

It was déjà vu in the third, as Kirkpatrick singled from the leadoff position and score three batters later when Tilton singled up the middle.

In just the second start of her collegiate career, Ladines (1-1) found herself in a pitcher's duel with Michigan's Sara Driesenga, a USA Softball National Player of the Year Watch List selection. Ladines allowed just one unearned run on seven hits and recorded eight strikeouts. The freshman displayed great poise, getting out both the sixth and seventh innings unscathed after having runners in scoring position and only one out.

It appeared that Ladines would get out of one more jam in the bottom of the ninth, but Michigan was finally able to take advantage of the international tiebreaker that places a runner on second base to begin each inning past the seventh. With two outs, Nicole Sappingfield singled down the right field line for the walkoff victory.

In the previous inning, it was the defensive effort of Ramos that prevented the Wolverines from scoring. Ramos made a great play to snag a line drive into the left centerfield gap and throw to second for a double-play.

The Flashes had their best scoring opportunity in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Arika Roush was placed on second and moved to third on a sac bunt by senior Jessacca Gironda. However, Michigan's Haylie Wagner (7-0) was able to get out of the inning with consecutive strikeouts. Wagner, who pitched the final tow innings of the game, earned her second victory against the Flashes in as many days.

"Our bench focus and enthusiasm was awesome today and it made a real difference in how we competed," Linder said.

Kent State concludes play at the Florida Atlantic Invitational with a rematch against Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Panthers defeated the Flashes, 1-0, on Friday.