Softball Splits Pair on Opening Day at UGA Softball Classic

Friday, March 7

Athens, Ga.

2:30 p.m.

Kent State University

9-4

Purdue University

7-12-1

Kent State

Purdue

Erika Warren

Softball Splits Pair on Opening Day at UGA Softball Classic

3/7/2014 10:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ATHENS, Ga. – Kent State (9-5) went RECORD on the first day of play at the UGA Softball Classic. The Golden Flashes opened with a 1-0 victory over Purdue and lost 4-1 No. 19/18 Georgia in the nightcap.

For the third consecutive game, freshman Maddy Grimm delivered a home run in the top of the first inning against Purdue, her third of the season.

Grimm's solo shot was all of the run support that junior ace Emma Johnson needed. Johnson kept the Boilermaker hitters guessing all game long, striking out 11 en route to her second one-hitter of the season.

"That was one of the best games I have seen Emma pitch," head coach Karen Linder said. "She had total control of her game today and our defense played very well too."

The Flashes finished with six hits in the game. Senior Abbey Ledford and sophomore Shelbi Tilton had two hits apiece.

Against Georgia, sophomore Erika Warren homered to center with two outs in the seventh to deny Geri Ann Glasco of a no-hitter and shutout.

Georgia scored a run in the bottom of the second to take the lead. The Bulldogs added two more in the third and a final run in the fourth.

Freshman Ronnie Ladines (1-2) allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on nine hits in six innings for Kent State. Ladines had seven strikeouts while walking three.

Glasco improved to 9-0 with the complete game victory. Kaylee Puailoa was one of four Bulldogs who collected two hits in the game. Puailoa also had three RBI.

Kent State continues play at the UGA Softball Classic on Saturday with a rematch against Georgia at 12:30 p.m. and a 5:30 p.m. game against Tennessee Tech.