Wednesday, May 7
Akron, Ohio
11:00 a.m.
Kent State University
vs
Ohio University
Photo by: David Dermer
Golden Flashes Open 2014 MAC Softball Tournament Wednesday Against Ohio
5/6/2014 1:50:00 PM | Softball
2014 MAC Softball Tournament Central
No. 4 seed Kent State (24-18, 10-6) begins play at the 2014 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament at Firestone Stadium in Akron with a first round matchup against No. 5 Ohio (28-24, 12-8) on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
An automatic bid to an NCAA Regional is on the line, as eight teams will compete in the double-elimination tournament, which is scheduled through Saturday. The championship game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and will be aired live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
Follow the Flashes
Fans can listen live to all of Kent State's game throughout the week, which will air on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel. Additionally, the MAC will be providing live stats and a video stream on the softball championships page of its website.
Be sure to follow @ksu_softball on Twitter and @KentStAthletics on Instagram for updates, photos and videos from Firestone Stadium throughout the week.
Flashes at the MAC Tournament
Kent State owns two MAC Tournament titles (2006, 2008) and is one of only two schools to win the tournament multiple times over the past decade. The Flashes 23-25 all-time in conference tournament games and 11-14 in tournament games played at Firestone Stadium.
A year ago, the Flashes entered as the No. 2 seed and opened with one-run losses to Central Michigan (1-0) and Ohio (5-4). In her MAC Tournament debut, then-freshman Lauren Kesterson led Kent State with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate and two RBI. Junior Dani Ramos had a team-best three hits and also drove in a run. Junior Emma Johnson pitched all 13 innings for the Flashes and allowed just four earned runs. Johnson recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts against Ohio.
Last Time Out
Kent State lost a pair of games to Buffalo to conclude the regular season over the weekend. The Flashes' bats, which seemed to be heating up at the right time, were silenced by the Bulls. Junior Kim Kirkpatrick's solo home run in the first inning of Sunday's 2-1 loss was the lone run the Flashes were able to manufacture over the two games. The Flashes loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning of the same game but left all three runners on base.
Freshman Ronnie Ladines threw one of her best games of the season and retired 14 of the final 16 batters to end the game. Unfortunately, two of the five hits she allowed cleared the fence for solo homers. Ladines had six strikeouts without any walks.
Pitching Leaders
Kent State boasts one of the MAC's top pitching staffs, led by junior Emma Johnson and freshman Ronnie Ladines. The Flashes have a 2.64 team ERA, which is the lowest in the conference, and rank third in opponent batting average (.239) and strikeouts (273).
Johnson and Ladines both earned conference postseason honors, which were announced Tuesday afternoon. Johnson was named to the All-MAC Second Team and Ladines earned All-Freshman Team accolades.
Johnson (14-9) has been among the top hurlers in the MAC each of the past three seasons and is holding opponents to a .203 average, which is the lowest among all conference pitchers. Johnson has 154 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA over 132.2 innings this season. She has thrown 12 complete games and five shutouts including a no-hitter.
Ladines has a 6-6 record and ranks fifth in the MAC with a 2.36 ERA. She has thrown eight complete games and has 85 strikeouts with just 13 walks in 92 innings.
Home Run Derby
After hitting just 12 home runs a season ago, Kent State has slugged 36 round trippers so far this year. The total is the seventh-most by any team in program history and ranks fourth in the MAC entering the conference tournament.
Leading the power resurgence has been freshman Maddy Grimm, who has surpassed last year's team total and tied the Kent State single-season record with 13 home runs in her first collegiate season. Grimm ranks 29th among all Division I players in home runs per game.
The long ball has become a major weapon for the Flashes, who have several players capable of hitting a shot over the fence. Senior Abbey Ledford and junior Kim Kirkpatrick have hit five homers each, while junior Ariele Patterson, sophomore Erika Warren and freshman Ronnie Ladines have added three apiece.
Offensive Leaders
Maddy Grimm leads the Flashes in several offensive categories, including runs scored (33), home runs (13), RBI (41), walks (26), slugging (.699) and on-base percentage (.425). Grimm is hitting .293 on the season and seven doubles to rank second on the team in both.
Junior Kim Kirkpatrick, who has hit in the three-hole the past 11 games, does a little bit of everything at the plate. Kirkpatrick leads the Flashes in hitting (.295), doubles (11) and stolen bases (5), while ranking second on the team in runs scored (30), triples (4), home runs (5) and slugging percentage (.553) while driving in 14 runs.
Abbey Ledford provides some pop in the middle of the Flashes' batting order and is second on the team in doubles (7), home runs (5) and RBI (16). The senior second baseman is on Kent State's top 10 career lists with 90 runs scored, 18 home runs and 90 RBI.
Junior Dani Ramos is 10th in the nation with five triples.
Scouting Ohio
Kent State owns a 58-43 all-time record against Ohio. The Golden Flashes also own an advantage in MAC Tournament matchups, winning five of seven all-time meetings. This will be the first meeting between the schools this year after their doubleheader was rained out back on April 4.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play either No. 1 Ball State or No. 8 Miami on Thursday. A complete schedule for the weekend can be found on the 2014 MAC Softball Tournament bracket.
No. 4 seed Kent State (24-18, 10-6) begins play at the 2014 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament at Firestone Stadium in Akron with a first round matchup against No. 5 Ohio (28-24, 12-8) on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
An automatic bid to an NCAA Regional is on the line, as eight teams will compete in the double-elimination tournament, which is scheduled through Saturday. The championship game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and will be aired live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
Follow the Flashes
Fans can listen live to all of Kent State's game throughout the week, which will air on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel. Additionally, the MAC will be providing live stats and a video stream on the softball championships page of its website.
Be sure to follow @ksu_softball on Twitter and @KentStAthletics on Instagram for updates, photos and videos from Firestone Stadium throughout the week.
Flashes at the MAC Tournament
Kent State owns two MAC Tournament titles (2006, 2008) and is one of only two schools to win the tournament multiple times over the past decade. The Flashes 23-25 all-time in conference tournament games and 11-14 in tournament games played at Firestone Stadium.
A year ago, the Flashes entered as the No. 2 seed and opened with one-run losses to Central Michigan (1-0) and Ohio (5-4). In her MAC Tournament debut, then-freshman Lauren Kesterson led Kent State with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate and two RBI. Junior Dani Ramos had a team-best three hits and also drove in a run. Junior Emma Johnson pitched all 13 innings for the Flashes and allowed just four earned runs. Johnson recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts against Ohio.
Last Time Out
Kent State lost a pair of games to Buffalo to conclude the regular season over the weekend. The Flashes' bats, which seemed to be heating up at the right time, were silenced by the Bulls. Junior Kim Kirkpatrick's solo home run in the first inning of Sunday's 2-1 loss was the lone run the Flashes were able to manufacture over the two games. The Flashes loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning of the same game but left all three runners on base.
Freshman Ronnie Ladines threw one of her best games of the season and retired 14 of the final 16 batters to end the game. Unfortunately, two of the five hits she allowed cleared the fence for solo homers. Ladines had six strikeouts without any walks.
Pitching Leaders
Kent State boasts one of the MAC's top pitching staffs, led by junior Emma Johnson and freshman Ronnie Ladines. The Flashes have a 2.64 team ERA, which is the lowest in the conference, and rank third in opponent batting average (.239) and strikeouts (273).
Johnson and Ladines both earned conference postseason honors, which were announced Tuesday afternoon. Johnson was named to the All-MAC Second Team and Ladines earned All-Freshman Team accolades.
Johnson (14-9) has been among the top hurlers in the MAC each of the past three seasons and is holding opponents to a .203 average, which is the lowest among all conference pitchers. Johnson has 154 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA over 132.2 innings this season. She has thrown 12 complete games and five shutouts including a no-hitter.
Ladines has a 6-6 record and ranks fifth in the MAC with a 2.36 ERA. She has thrown eight complete games and has 85 strikeouts with just 13 walks in 92 innings.
Home Run Derby
After hitting just 12 home runs a season ago, Kent State has slugged 36 round trippers so far this year. The total is the seventh-most by any team in program history and ranks fourth in the MAC entering the conference tournament.
Leading the power resurgence has been freshman Maddy Grimm, who has surpassed last year's team total and tied the Kent State single-season record with 13 home runs in her first collegiate season. Grimm ranks 29th among all Division I players in home runs per game.
The long ball has become a major weapon for the Flashes, who have several players capable of hitting a shot over the fence. Senior Abbey Ledford and junior Kim Kirkpatrick have hit five homers each, while junior Ariele Patterson, sophomore Erika Warren and freshman Ronnie Ladines have added three apiece.
Offensive Leaders
Maddy Grimm leads the Flashes in several offensive categories, including runs scored (33), home runs (13), RBI (41), walks (26), slugging (.699) and on-base percentage (.425). Grimm is hitting .293 on the season and seven doubles to rank second on the team in both.
Junior Kim Kirkpatrick, who has hit in the three-hole the past 11 games, does a little bit of everything at the plate. Kirkpatrick leads the Flashes in hitting (.295), doubles (11) and stolen bases (5), while ranking second on the team in runs scored (30), triples (4), home runs (5) and slugging percentage (.553) while driving in 14 runs.
Abbey Ledford provides some pop in the middle of the Flashes' batting order and is second on the team in doubles (7), home runs (5) and RBI (16). The senior second baseman is on Kent State's top 10 career lists with 90 runs scored, 18 home runs and 90 RBI.
Junior Dani Ramos is 10th in the nation with five triples.
Scouting Ohio
- Ohio (28-24, 12-8 MAC) went 2-2 against Western Michigan and Northern Illinois over the weekend.
- After leading the conference standings for the first month of league play, the Bobcats have won just three of their last 10 games.
- SS Amanda Dalton was an All-MAC First Team selection after hitting .410 in league play.
- OF Adrienne Gebele and 1B Alexandria Basquez provide power in the middle of the Bobcat lineup. Gebele and Basquez have combined for 21 doubles, 19 home runs and 67 RBI.
- P Savannah Jo Dorsey (21-16) is an All-MAC Second Team selection. Dorsey leads the conference with 244 strikeouts and is second with 221 innings pitched. She also has thrown five shutouts and owns a 2.64 ERA.
Kent State owns a 58-43 all-time record against Ohio. The Golden Flashes also own an advantage in MAC Tournament matchups, winning five of seven all-time meetings. This will be the first meeting between the schools this year after their doubleheader was rained out back on April 4.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play either No. 1 Ball State or No. 8 Miami on Thursday. A complete schedule for the weekend can be found on the 2014 MAC Softball Tournament bracket.
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