Kent State Softball Splits with Big Ten Foes

Saturday, March 15

Louisville, Ky.

11:00 a.m.

Kent State University

11-9

University of Michigan

17-6

Kent State

Michigan

Jessacca Gironda

Kent State Softball Splits with Big Ten Foes

3/15/2014 4:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—For the second consecutive day, Kent State's softball team split a pair of games at the Class Act Federal Credit Union Classic at the University of Louisville's Ulmer Stadium. After losing 12-4 in six innings to No. 7/8 Michigan Saturday morning, the Golden Flashes ended the weekend strong by defeating Wisconsin, 5-2.

Kent State (12-9) has played a very challenging schedule to-date and own three wins against schools from the Big Ten.

"Our offense really picked us up this weekend," head coach Karen Linder said. "It was a good win against Wisconsin today considering we played without a few girls. I'm really proud of how our team competed this weekend and throughout the season."

The Golden Flashes are now 0-3 against Michigan this season, but had their best offensive performance in three games against the highly-ranked Wolverines. After scoring just one run on six hits over 16 innings in two previous games, the Flashes plated four runs and collected seven hits on Saturday.

Michigan struck early with three first-inning runs and added four in the third to take a 7-0 lead. Freshman Maddy Grimm hit a solo home run to center, her sixth of the season, in the fourth to put Kent State on the board.

After the Wolverines scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Flashes fought back with three runs of their own to avoid the run-rule. Senior Kim Morgason opened the inning with a single up the middle and scored on a double by senior Jessacca Gironda. Freshman Ronnie Ladines then hit a pinch-hit home run to cut Michigan's lead to 10-4. Kent State was able to put two more runners on base, but Michigan got out of the inning without allowing any more runs and scored once in the fifth and sixth innings to end the game.

Senior Lauren McNeil (2-2) started for Kent State and allowed six runs on four hits in 2.1 innings. McNeil also recorded the Flashes' only strikeout of the game. Megan Betsa (6-3) was the winning pitcher, allowing four runs in 4.1 innings with six strikeouts for Michigan.

Kent State scored twice in the top of the first inning and never trailed against Wisconsin. Junior Kim Kirkpatrick opened the game with a single and advanced to second when junior Dani Ramos was hit by a pitch. Grimm singled to score Kirkpatrick and advanced to second as Ramos was thrown out at third. Sophomore Shelbi Tilton then reached on an error that allowed Grimm to come around from second to score.

Junior Ariele Patterson started a two-out rally as Kent State scored three in the fourth. Patterson singled and advanced to second when Kirkpatrick walked. A single up the middle by Ramos brought Patterson home. Grimm followed with a two-run double.

Junior Emma Johnson (7-4) threw her 10th complete game of the season to pick up the victory. Johnson recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts and allowed two runs on just four hits.

Kent State will play five games at the Kentucky Tournament in Lexington, Ky. next weekend (March 21-23).