Fielding Errors Too Much to Overcome in MAC Tournament Loss

Friday, May 9

Akron, Ohio

11:00 a.m.

Kent State University

25-20

Central Michigan University

34-21

Central Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Fielding Errors Too Much to Overcome in MAC Tournament Loss

5/9/2014 2:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio — Kent State (25-20) saw its season come to a close with a 3-1 loss to Central Michigan in a Mid-American Conference Tournament elimination game Friday at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

The Golden Flashes received solid outings from pitchers Emma Johnson and Ronnie Ladines, who combined to prevent the Chippewas from scoring an earned run in the contest. However, a pair of errors and the inability to move runners in key situations led to the season-ending defeat.

Kent State took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Junior Dani Ramos tripled over the head of the left fielder. She then scored on a sac fly hit to the wall by freshman Maddy Grimm.

Central Michigan took full advantage of Kent State's defensive miscues to score its three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Flashes should have retired the side in the inning, as a strikeout was followed by two routine ground balls to the left side of the infield that were mishandled. CarolAnn Sexauer quickly made the Flashes pay with a ground-rule double to score the tying run. Trista Cox followed with a bloop single that scored two more, ending the day for Johnson.

Kent State threatened in the seventh with two runners in scoring position and nobody out following a single by freshman Janel Hayes and a double by sophomore Michele Duffy. After back-to-back pop outs to shortstop, junior Kim Kirkpatrick drew a walk to load the bases for Ramos, who had two hits earlier in the game. Ramos made good contact to left-center, but Central Michigan's Brittney Horan was able to make the catch for the final out.

For the third consecutive game, the Flashes collected more hits than their opponent (6-5). The timely hits that keyed Thursday's victory did not happen, however, as the Flashes went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.

Johnson (14-11) did not allow an earned run in 4.1 innings in the circle. She had four strikeouts and allowed four hits. Ladines pitched the final 2.2 innings of the game and surrendered just one hit while striking out two batters with no walks.

Kent State finishes the season with a 25-20 record.