Grimm’s Sixth-Inning Blast Gives Flashes Sweep of Rival Zips

Sunday, April 6

Akron, OH

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

16-14, 0

University of Akron

15-8, 0

Kent State

Akron

Photo by: David Dermer

Grimm’s Sixth-Inning Blast Gives Flashes Sweep of Rival Zips

4/6/2014 3:28:00 PM | Softball

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AKRON, Ohio – Freshman Maddy Grimm crushed a three-run homer over the left field fence as Kent State rallied in the sixth inning for the second consecutive day to defeat rival Akron, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Flashes improve to 16-14 overall and 2-2 in Mid-American Conference play with the win and claim a full point in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge standings with the weekend sweep of the Zips.

"I'm ecstatic that we're coming away with a win," head coach Karen Linder said. "Obviously, the sixth inning was huge for us. Maddy came through with a big hit and took advantage of the situation with runners on base. I thought both teams played well and we were able to take advantage of a mistake that Akron made."

Kent State needed only one hit in the pivotal sixth inning. Sophomore Michele Duffy and junior Dani Ramos reached after being by a pitch and drawing a walk, respectively. After choosing to intentionally walk Grimm in the exact situation on two occasions in Saturday's game, Akron elected to pitch to the freshman slugger. Grimm made the Zips pay with her 10th home run of the season. She now has 35 RBI, which ties the Kent State freshman record held by Jessica Carmichael (2008).

That was all of the run support freshman Ronnie Ladines needed, as she retired the Zips in order in the sixth and seventh innings.

Grimm's blast provided the majority of the offense, as Ladines and Akron ace Erin Seiler were locked in a pitchers' duel for most of the game. The teams combined for just six hits after totaling 18 in Saturday's contest.

"We had some good at-bats today," Linder said. "We were just hitting the ball hard at people and Akron made some nice plays defensively."

Ladines went the distance for the Flashes to even her record at 4-4 on the season. She was dominant early, recording five strikeouts in the first two innings. Ladines finished the day with seven punch-outs and allowed just one unearned run on four hits while not walking a single batter. Seiler is now 9-4 on the season after her second loss of the weekend and allowed just two hits in six innings.

Akron got on the board first for the second day in a row after capitalizing on a defensive miscue by the Flashes. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Akron's Kellie Roudabush stole second base and advanced to third after the base was uncovered to allow the ball to go into the outfield. Jessica Reiman was then able to find a hole on the left side of the infield to bring Roudabush home.

The Flashes will play their home opener at the Diamond at Dix next weekend with four games against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan Friday through Sunday.