Kent State University
6-2
Robert Morris
6-4
Golden Flashes Earn Sweep on Opening Day of Green and White Tournament
2/28/2015 10:49:00 PM | Softball
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Kent State had no trouble getting back into its rhythm after being idle last weekend and won both of its games at the Green and White Tournament on Saturday. The Golden Flashes came away with a 1-0 victory over host Charlotte to get the day started and then defeated Robert Morris, 5-1, in the second game.
The pitching staff allowed just one run on the day and received solid support from its offense. Nine different Flashes recorded a base hit, led by a 4-for-7 performance at the plate by Kim Kirkpatrick. The senior had two doubles, two stolen bases and scored twice. Senior Dani Ramos and sophomore Maddy Grimm added two hits each as the top three of the Flashes' lineup combined for eight hits.
"It's great to get two wins today," said head coach Karen Linder. "We haven't played in almost two weeks and you never know how a team will respond in that first game back out there. Defensively, we were solid all day and our offense did a good job of taking advantage of defensive mistakes. Kim Kirkpatrick had a great day and came up huge offensively."
Game 1: Kent State 1, Charlotte 0
Senior Emma Johnson set the tone for the Flashes with a dominant performance inside of the circle. Johnson (2-1) recorded 12 strikeouts and walked just one batter while allowing only three hits as she threw her first shutout of the season. The 49ers did not get a hit off Johnson until the fifth inning.
Kent State capitalized on an error to score the only run of the game in the top the fifth inning. Erika Warren reached on an error to start the inning. Kirkpatrick doubled two batters later to score the speedy Arika Roush, who entered as a pinch-runner.
Game 2: Kent State 5, Robert Morris 1
Kent State scored in its first at-bat as Kim Kirkpatrick singled up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Maddy Grimm brought Kirkpatrick home to score on a single up the middle of her own.
A leadoff double by Kirkpatrick started a two-run third for the Flashes. A single by Dani Ramos and groundout by Grimm moved two runners into scoring position. Shelbi Tilton then reached on a throwing error that allowed both runners to cross the plate.
An outstanding defensive play by Ramos helped prevent a big sixth inning for the Colonials. A leadoff single and wild pitch put a runner in scoring position with no outs. The next batter hit a shot on a rope to deep centerfield and Ramos was able to track it down for the down and only allow the runner to tag up and advance to third. While the runner scored on a sac fly by the next batter, the Flashes were able to maintain a 3-1 lead.
Kent State responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Tilton got it started with a single and advanced on a sac bunt. Ronnie Ladines helped her own cause with a single down the line to score pinch runner Vanessa Scoarste and advanced to third on a single by Janel Hayes. Ladines then scored on a sac fly by Erika Warren.
Ladines (2-1) threw a complete game to earn the victory for the Flashes. She had four strikeouts and allowed five hits.
Kent State concludes play at the Green and White Tournament Sunday with a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure beginning at 12 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ladines, Ronnie (2-1)
L: Sleith (4-3)
Batting:
RBI: Apke 1
SF: Apke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gurganus 1
Batting:
2B: Kirkpatrick, Kim 1
RBI: Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1 ; Warren, Erika 1
SH: Duffy, Michele 1
SF: Warren, Erika 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kirkpatrick, Kim 2 ; Ramos, Dani 1 ; Scoarste, Vanessa 1 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
SB: Kirkpatrick, Kim 2 ; Kesterson, Chloe 1
