Saturday, April 5
Akron, OH
2:00 p.m.
Kent State University
15-14, 0
8
at
3
University of Akron
15-7, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kent State
0
0
0
1
0
7
0
8
10
2
Akron
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
3
8
1
Abbey Ledford is met at home plate following her grand slam in the 6th inning.
Photo by: David Dermer
Late Rally Lifts Softball Past Akron, 8-3
4/5/2014 6:06:00 PM | Softball
Photo Gallery
AKRON, Ohio – Senior Abbey Ledford put the exclamation point on a seven-run sixth inning when she crushed a pitch over wall in right-center field for a grand slam that gave the Kent State a commanding lead on the way to an 8-3 victory over rival Akron on Saturday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.
"I was really proud of the way we fought back today," said head coach Karen Linder. "We stayed withit, stayed focused, stayed confident. It was a huge win and finally the offense started to click for us late in the game."
The rally started with a leadoff double over the head of the centerfielder by junior Ariele Patterson. After a well-hit lineout by senior Kim Morgason, Linder went to her bench and got back-to-back clutch hits. Freshman Janel Hayes collected her first collegiate hit with a single the opposite way that scored Patterson to tie the game. Sophomore Michele Duffy followed with a double to right field.
"Ariele Patterson did a great job for us and had a lot to do with our comeback," Linder said of her right fielder, who also scored the Flashes' first run of the game following a single in the fourth inning. "And then our pinch-hitters came in and did their jobs and it kept us in the game. Jessacca Gironda, Janel Hayes and Michele Duffy all came in and got hits for us. "
Junior Kim Kirkpatrick gave Kent State its first lead of the game with a triple that scored both runners. After junior Dani Ramos drew a walk, freshman Maddy Grimm was intentionally walked to load the bases for the second consecutive inning. Having reached on a fielder's choice that cut down the runner at the plate in the previous inning, Ledford made the most of her second chance and delivered the knockout blow with her third homer of the season.
"I'm really excited for Abbey to come through in the clutch with the big hit after they walked Maddy," Linder said.
Akron responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth for the final score.
Junior Emma Johnson (8-7) threw 6.0 innings and struck out five batters to earn the victory for Kent State. Senior Lauren McNeil retired all three batters she faced in relief of Johnson in the seventh.
"Emma kept battling throughout the day with runners on base, Linder said of her starting pitcher. "And then Lauren came in and went 1-2-3 in the seventh."
Kent State threatened in the top of the first, but Ramos was thrown out at the plate on a single to right by Ledford. The Zips used two doubles to plate a run in the bottom of the first and took a 2-0 lead on the second of back-to-back singles in the second inning.
The victory earns Kent State a half-point in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge standings, which Akron leads 5.5-4.0.
The Flashes head back to Akron for a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Emma (8-7)
L: SEILER (9-3)
Batting:
2B: Patterson, Ariele 1 ; Duffy, Michele 1
3B: Kirkpatrick, Kim 1
HR: Ledford, Abbey 1
RBI: Kirkpatrick, Kim 2 ; Ledford, Abbey 4 ; Hayes, Janel 1
SH: Warren, Erika 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kirkpatrick, Kim 1 ; Ramos, Dani 1 ; Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Ledford, Abbey 1 ; Patterson, Ariele 2 ; Roush, Arika 1 ; Duffy, Michele 1
SB: Ledford, Abbey 1 ; Morgason, Kim 1
HBP: Patterson, Ariele 1
Batting:
2B: MAILLOUX 2 ; SCHNEIDER 1
RBI: MAILLOUX 1 ; SCHNEIDER 1 ; REIMAN 1
SH: SCHNEIDER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILDEY 1 ; ROUDABUSH 1 ; ALLMON 1
SB: POND 1
CS: ALLMON 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
ph/1b
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
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