Softball Slated for Seven in Bluegrass State

Kent State (12-9) will finalize preparation next weekend's Mid-American Conference opener with seven games in the state of Kentucky. The Golden Flashes play five games at the Kentucky Tournament Friday through Sunday and then head to Eastern Kentucky for a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Play begins with a 10 a.m. contest Friday against Kansas, followed by a 2 p.m. game against No.10/8 Kentucky. The Flashes then play Fairfield at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a noon contest against Saint Francis (Pa.). Kent State concludes tournament play with its third game of the season against the host Wildcats at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes went 2-2 at the Class Act Federal Credit Union Classic in Louisville, Ky. this past weekend. The Flashes' bats came alive in a 13-4 six-inning win over Iowa State in the weekend opener on Friday. Four players had multi-hit games as the Flashes collected a season-high 12 hits. After losses to host Louisville (2-1) and No. 7/8 Michigan (12-4), the Flashes closed the weekend with a 5-2 victory over Wisconsin for their third win over a Big Ten school of the season.

Freshman Maddy Grimm had a stellar performance at the plate to earn her second Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week award of the season. Grimm went 6-for-11 at the plate with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI. Additionally, she scored six runs and stolen a base.

Seniors Abbey Ledford and Kim Morgason also had hot bats for the Flashes. Ledford had four hits and drove in three runs, while Morgason went collected five hits and an RBI. Morgason had a career game at the plate against Iowa State, going 3-for-3 with a double and a triple. Junior Dani Ramos also had five hits on the weekend and added four RBI.

Freshman Ronnie Ladines went 4.2 innings and struck out four to earn a victory against Iowa State. Ladines also blasted the first home run of her collegiate career in her only at-bat of the weekend.

Junior Emma Johnson went 1-1 on the weekend, but had just a1.08 ERA in her 13.0 innings of work. Johnson recorded 18 strikeouts, including a season-high 13 punch-outs against Iowa State.

Early-Season Leaders
Through the first 21 games of the season, Kent State has already hit 16 home runs to surpass last season's total of 12. Maddy Grimm leads the way with six homers, while Kim Kirkpatrick, Shelbi Tilton and Abbey Ledford have two blasts each.

One of the top freshmen in the Mid-American Conference, Grimm leads the Flashes in several offensive categories, including batting average (.317), hits (20), triples (2) and RBI (24). She ranks second in the conference in slugging percentage (.714) and RBI, third in home runs and 10th in on-base percentage (.434).

Kirkpatrick leads Kent State with 17 runs, five doubles and three stolen bases. She is hitting .302 from the leadoff position in the lineup.

Abbey Ledford has hit the ball well in recent weeks with a .355 batting average, two doubles and two home runs over the past 12 games.

Kent State's pitching staff ranks second in the MAC with a 2.52 team ERA and third with 126 strikeouts and a .245 opponent batting average.

Emma Johnson (7-4) is the ace of the staff and has thrown seven complete games, which includes a pair of one-hit shutouts. Johnson ranks in the top 60 nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (4.48) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.2).

Lauren McNeil (2-2) and Ronnie Ladines have both thrown a pair of complete games and rank in the top 12 in the MAC in ERA. McNeil also has two saves.

Opponents

Kansas (20-9)

Kansas split a doubleheader with Saint Louis on Wednesday, falling 3-4 in the opener before a 10-0 victory in Game 2.
INF Chaley Brickley leads the Jayhawks with a .429 batting average, 8 doubles and 6 home runs. Brickley is second on the team with 20 RBI.
C Harli Ridling leads the team with 22 RBI and has also hit six homers.
P Kelsey Kessler (11-6) has thrown 13 complete games and 153 strikeouts with a 1.54 ERA.

#10/8 Kentucky (22-4)

Kentucky won 2 out of three in a weekend series at #20/18 Missouri over weekend and defeated Indiana, 5-0, Tuesday night.
The Wildcats have hit 28 home runs on the season.
C Griffin Joiner leads the team with a .378 batting average. Joiner has 6 doubles, 7 home runs and 20 RBI on the season.
P/INF Lauren Cumbess is hitting .309 and is second on the team with 13 RBI. Cumbess (7-0) has thrown 3 shutouts and owns a 1.38 ERA in 55.2 innings in the pitcher's circle.
P Kelsey Nunley (8-2) has four shutouts and a 1.89 ERA in 77.2 innings.
Nunley and Cumbess have each hurled a no-hitter this season for the Wildcats.

Fairfield (2-7)

Fairfield went 0-2 at the Hofstra Tournament over the weekend. The Stags were had 3 of their scheduled games canceled.
On the season, Fairfield has been outscored by opponent, 47-19.
OF Sammy Ruffalo leads the team in hitting with a .400 batting average and 4 RBI.
INF Kristen Filicia also has 4 RBI and is hitting .385 on the season.
P Rae Bell (2-2) has thrown 4 complete games and owns a 4.32 ERA in 25.0 innings.

St. Francis [Pa.] (13-4)

St. Francis went 3-2 at Capital Invitational over the weekend by beating Brown (twice) and Manhattan and losing to host George Washington (twice).
The Red Flash rank 4th nationally with 2.47 stolen bases per game.
C/UT Chelsy Consentino leads the team with a .412 batting average. Consentino aslo has 6 doubles, 2 triples 1 home run and 13 RBI.
INF Sabrie Neeb, INF Lindsey Reid and OF Kate Blattenberger have 12 RBI each.
INF/P Alexis Bower has driven in a team-leading 21 runs on the season while hitting .396. Bower (5-1) is also tied for the team lead in victories and owns a 2.63 ERA in 34.2 innings.
P Keterah DeVries (5-1) has a 2.31 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 30.1 innings.

Eastern Kentucky (11-11)

Eastern Kentucky split a doubleheader against Tennessee State this past week.
The Colonels have split with preseason MAC Tournament favorite Central Michigan, bear Louisville 4-0, and lost to Kentucky 2-1.
C Katie Tackett leads the team with 5 home runs and 14 RBI while hitting .277 on the season.
1B Chritina Ciolek has hit 3 home runs and drive in 10 runs.
P Leanna Pittsenbarger (8-6) has spent the majority of the time in the pitcher's circle for the Colonels this season. Pittsenbarger has been terrific, throwing 5 shutouts so far this season. She has a 1.53 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 86.2 innings.

Series History vs. Opponents

Kansas: 1-1
Kentucky: 3-9
- Kent State defeated Kentucky, 3-0, on Feb. 22.
Fairfield: 0-0
- Game at JMU Invitational on Feb. 28 canceled due to weather.
Saint Francis (Pa.): 0-0
Eastern Kentucky: 9-3

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State hosts Miami for a doubleheader in its home opener at the Diamond at Dix Friday to open its Mid-American Conference schedule. The Flashes also host Ball State for single games next Saturday and Sunday.

Softball Slated for Seven in Bluegrass State

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Softball Slated for Seven in Bluegrass State

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