Saturday, March 8
Athens, Ga.
12:30 p.m.
Kent State University
9-6
2
at
5
University of Georgia
19-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kent State
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
3
3
Georgia
0
0
0
0
0
5
X
5
7
0
Lauren Kesterson
Softball Earns Another Split on Day 2 at UGA Softball Classic
3/8/2014 8:09:00 PM | Softball
ATHENS, Ga.—Kent State split a pair of games for the second consecutive day of play at the UGA Softball Classic on Saturday. The Golden Flashes were unable to hold off No. 19/18 Georgia in the first game of the day in a 5-2 loss, but bounced back for a 1-0 victory over Tennessee Tech in the second game.
"The first game was a tough loss to a very good Georgia team, said head coach Karen Linder. "We played with them for 5.5 innings, but just weren't able to close the door. I was proud of our girls to come back after a loss and best Tennessee Tech. Our defense played well in the second game and our pitchers did their job throwing a shutout."
The Golden Flashes (10-6) led host Georgia 2-0 and were just six outs from knocking off a Top 20 school from the Southeastern Conference for the second time this season. However, a five-run sixth inning was enough for the Bulldogs to improve to 16-1 at home.
Kent State displayed good discipline at the plate and capitalized on control issues by Georgia starter Chelsea Wilkinson to score a run in the top of the first. Juniors Kim Kirkpatrick and Dani Ramos drew back-to-back walks to open the game. Two batters later, sophomore Shelbi Tilton was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Kirkpatrick was then able to score on Wilkinson's second wild pitch of the inning.
Senior Abbey Ledford added to the lead with her second home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning.
Junior Emma Johnson (6-3) showed great composure in getting out of trouble time and again to keep a powerful Georgia offense from scoring in the first five innings. While the Bulldogs were able reach base, Johnson kept them from scoring, as nine runners were left on base in those early innings.
Georgia loaded the bases in the sixth on an error and two singles. Paige Wilson delivered a bases-clearing double down the left field line that put Georgia ahead 3-2. Alex Hugo added a two-run homer for insurance runs.
Only two of the runs Johnson allowed were earned, as she struck out five in 5.2 innings. Sophomore Alyssa Frankenfield replaced her to record the final out in the sixth. Chelsea Wilkinson went to distance for Georgia to improve to 9-2. Wilkinson allowed three hits and had seven strikeouts, but walked six batters.
Senior Lauren McNeil and freshman Ronnie Ladines combined for a shutout against Tennessee Tech. McNeil (2-1) allowed five hits and had four strikeouts in five innings to earn the victory. Ladines recorded her second save of the season by throwing the final two innings. She had two strikeouts and allowed just one hit.
Kent State scored the lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Tilton doubled and advanced to third on a single by Ledford. Sophomore Lauren Kesterson brought Tilton home with a single to left field.
Kesterson led the Flashes at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance on the day. Tilton and Kirkpatrick also had two hits each.
Kent State will conclude play at the UGA Softball Classic against Tennessee Tech at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilkinson (10-2)
L: Johnson, Emma (6-3)
Batting:
HR: Ledford, Abbey 1
RBI: Ledford, Abbey 1
SH: Warren, Erika 2 ; Gironda, Jessacca 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kirkpatrick, Kim 1 ; Ledford, Abbey 1
HBP: Tilton, Shelbi 1
Batting:
2B: Swafford 1 ; Wilson 1
HR: Hugo 1
RBI: Wilson 3 ; Hugo 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Swafford 1 ; Wilson 1 ; Hugo 1 ; Griffin 1 ; Beggs 1
HBP: Swafford 1 ; Puailoa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
SB 50th Anniversary
Monday, July 21
25 SB HYPE
Friday, July 18
Dane Pitches His Case to Join The Kent State Softball Pitchers
Friday, July 11
Kent State Softball vs. Northern Illinois 4.20.25
Tuesday, April 22
