Flashes Sweep Bonnies Behind Offensive Explosion and Johnson’s Arm

Sunday, March 1

Charlotte, N.C.

10:00 a.m.

Kent State University

7-2

St. Bonaventure

1-6

St. Bonaventure

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Sweep Bonnies Behind Offensive Explosion and Johnson’s Arm

3/1/2015 7:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Kent State improved to 8-2 with a sweep of St. Bonaventure on the final day of competition Sunday at the Green and White Tournament. The Golden Flashes won all four games this weekend and have won six straight overall.

Behind the arm of senior Emma Johnson, Kent State defeated the Bonnies, 1-0, in the first game of the day. The Flashes' bats came alive in the second game, an 18-4 victory. The Flashes collected 16 hits and scored in all six innings to end the weekend with a bang.

Game 1: Kent State 1, St. Bonaventure 0
Emma Johnson continued her dominance over the weekend with a second shutout in as many days. Johnson struck out 14 of the 24 batters she faced. She had two walks and allowed two hits as only four Bonnies reached base.

Kent State scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Erika Warren started the inning with a single. Emily Dobbin entered to pinch run and moved to second on a sac bunt. Kim Kirkpatrick was then hit by a pitch. Dani Ramos reached on a fielder's choice, but the Bonnies cut off the lead runner and retired Dobbin at third. It looked like St. Bonaventure might get out of the jam, but Maddy Grimm came through with a single to right that scored Kirkpatrick for the winning run.

The Flashes had seven hits in the game with Kirkpatrick and Warren leading the way with two each.

Game 2: Kent State 18, St. Bonaventure 4 (6 innings)
Kent State scored twice in the top of the first inning. Dani Ramos was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Maddy Grimm. With two outs, Michele Duffy singled to right field allowed Grimm to score.

St. Bonaventure scored twice in the bottom of the first to tie the game, but Kent State came right back to regain the lead in the top of the second. Erika Warren singled and advanced to second on an error to move into scoring position. Chloe Kesterson brought her home to score with a single to take the lead for good.

Kent State added two runs in each of the next three innings before scoring nine in the sixth.

Leading the way for the Flashes was freshman Katlyn Purvis. In the first start of her career, Purvis went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Duffy had three hits and drove in two runs. Shelbi Tilton had two hits and Janel Hayes and Grimm had two RBI each.

Alyssa Frankenfield was the winning pitcher for the Flashes. Frankenfield (2-0) threw into the sixth inning and allowed four runs. She had two strikeouts. Ronnie Ladines entered in the sixth and retired all three batters she faced to end the game. Ladines also had two strikeouts.

Kent State is scheduled to travel to Orlando for five games at the UCF Knights Invitational next weekend (March 6-8).