Kent State Looks to Take Down Another Nationally-Ranked Team at UGA Softball Classic

UGA Softball Classic

Kent State (8-4) takes a three-game win streak into this weekend's UGA Softball Classic. The Golden Flashes will play five games over a three-day span.

Play begins with a 12:30 p.m. contest Friday against Purdue, followed by a 5:30 p.m. game against No. 19/18 Georgia. The Flashes will play Georgia again on Saturday and conclude with a pair of games against Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes won both of their games in a shortened James Madison Invitational last weekend. After beating Penn State 9-1 in five innings, the Flashes took care of James Madison, 4-3.

The long ball played a big role for the Flashes, as they hit three in each game. Freshman Maddy Grimm homered in the top of the first inning of both games to lead the power surge. Junior Kim Kirkpatrick and sophomore Shelbi Tilton both hit their second home run of the season, while senior Abbey Ledford and sophomore Michele Duffy also homered.

Grimm earned tournament MVP and Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week honors for her work at the plate on Saturday. She hit 3-for-5 at the plate, scored three runs and had five RBI in addition to her two home runs to finish with a 1.800 slugging percentage.

Junior outfielder Dani Ramos was named to the all-tournament team after a 3-for-6 performance at the plate and scoring two runs.

Senior Lauren McNeil received all-tournament team and MAC East Pitcher of the Week honors. McNeil improved to 1-1 on the season with a complete game victory against Penn State. She allowed just one run on four hits over five innings and had two strikeouts.

Early-Season Leaders
Tilton leads the MAC with a .512 on-base percentage and is hitting a team-best .364 at the dish on the season. She has two doubles, two home runs and has driven in seven runs.

Kirkpatrick has continued to build off a strong sophomore campaign that ended with an all-conference selection. From her leadoff spot in the Kent State lineup, she has done a terrific job of setting the table and getting in position for her teammates to bring her home. Kirkpatrick is hitting .350 with three doubles, two home runs and leads the team with 12 runs scored.

Grimm, who is second in the MAC with 17 RBI already on the season, has been on a tear at the plate ever since a rough opening day. She brings a four-game hitting streak into the weekend and has hit .419 over the past 10 games. Grimm also leads the Flashes in home runs (3), triples (2) and slugging percentage (.684).

Kent State's pitching staff has been terrific early in the season with a 1.94 team ERA, which ranks second in the conference. Opponents are hitting just .220 against the Flashes, which ranks third.

Junior Emma Johnson leads the way with a 5-2 record. Johnson has thrown four complete games and leads the Flashes in innings pitched (39.1) and strikeouts (40). Opponents are hitting just .191 against Johnson, an impressive feat considering that she has started games against a pair of teams ranked in the Top 10 at the time in Michigan and Kentucky. She threw a one-hit shutout to lead the Flashes to a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats.

Freshman Ronnie Ladines (1-1) owns a team-best 1.12 ERA in 18.2 innings of duty and earned the first save of her collegiate career against James Madison. McNeil (1-1) has a 1.26 ERA in 16.2 innings and is tied for the conference lead with two saves.

Opponents

Purdue (6-11-1)
• Purdue went 1-4 at Easton Crimson Classic last weekend.
• Infielder Ashley Burkhardt has been the offensive catalyst for the Boilermakers. Burkhardt leads the team in batting average (.404), doubles (7), home runs (5), RBI (20) and slugging percentage (.789).
• Outfielder Andie Varsho was named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List prior to the season. Varsho is hitting .380 with 3 RBI.
• Outfielder Lindsey Rains leads Purdue with 12 RBI on the season.
• Lilly Fecho (4-6) has done the bulk of the pitching for the Boilermakers with 62.1 innings pitched and nine complete games. Fecho owns a 3.37 ERA and has 62 strikeouts.

No. 19/18 Georgia (16-2)
• Host Georgia has spent just one weekend on the road and is 13-1 at home this season.
• The Bulldogs' losses are to UAB and No. 16/14 South Alabama.
• Georgia has outscored its opponents 133-31 so far and has won via the mercy rule eight times.
• The Bulldogs are hitting .350 as a team and have six players in their lineup hitting .340 or better.
• Pitcher/infielder Geri Ann Glasco and infielder Paige Wilson were both named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List prior to the season.
• Glasco is hitting .380 with 4 home runs and 18 RBI. In the pitching circle, she is 8-0 with 2 shutouts and a 1.11 ERA.
• Wilson is hitting .350, with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs and 17 RBI.
• Infielder Anna Swafford leads the Bulldogs in hitting (.409) and 8 stolen bases.
• Chelsea Wilkinson (8-2) has also been terrific on the mound this season with a 1.18 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. Wilkinson threw a no-hitter vs. Mercer (5 innings) earlier in the season.

Tennessee Tech (7-11)
• Tennessee Tech swept Holy Cross on Wednesday after losing three times at East Carolina over the weekend.
• Outfielder Madison Taylor is hitting a team-best .309 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI.
• Outfielder Olivia Bennett has 2 home runs and 8 RBI.
• The Golden Eagles have a team ERA of 4.38.
• Danielle Liberatore (3-4) leads the team in wins, ERA (4.34) and strikeouts (37).

Series History vs. Opponents
• Purdue: 1-1
• Georgia: 0-4
• Tennessee Tech: 0-1

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play four games at the Louisville Classic in Louisville, Ky. next weekend (March 14-15).

Kent State Looks to Take Down Another Nationally-Ranked Team at UGA Softball Classic

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