Flashes Can’t Hold Lead in 4-1 Loss to No. 3 Michigan

Sunday, March 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

12-6

Michigan

24-4

Kent State

Michigan

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Can’t Hold Lead in 4-1 Loss to No. 3 Michigan

3/15/2015 3:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Kent State used the long ball to score first in Sunday's rubber match with No. 3 Michigan, but a pair of home runs in the sixth inning gave the host Wolverines a 4-1 victory.

The Golden Flashes (12-6) and Wolverines (24-4) split their doubleheader on Saturday with the Flashes winning the first game, 3-0, and falling 10-1 in the second game.

"I'm proud of the way we came out strong today," said head coach Karen Linder. "Our defense was solid and Emma battled to keep us in it. Offensively, we had some opportunities to score but we were just missing one or two more clutch hits."

Michele Duffy gave the Flashes a 1-0 lead with her first home run of the season to start the fourth inning.

Including Saturday's shutout, Emma Johnson was able to keep the potent Michigan offense of the scoreboard for 10 innings before finally allowing a run in the bottom half of the inning. Kelly Christner collected Michigan's first hit of the day with a single to center field with one out. After advancing to second on a groundout, Christner came around to score the tying run on a single by Tera Blanco. Johnson hit the next batter to put two runners on, but regrouped for a strikeout to get out of the inning.

The Flashes were unable to take advantage of an opportunity to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. Maddy Grimm walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a single by Holly Speers. Janel Hayes drew a walk to load the bases, but Erika Warren popped up to the catcher to end the threat.

A two-run homer by Christner and a solo shot by Blanco in the bottom of the sixth gave Michigan a 4-1 lead.

Dani Ramos legged out an infield single with two outs in the seventh, but Grimm struck out to end the game.

Johnson (6-3) threw 5.1 innings in the loss. She had eight strikeouts and allowed five hits. Hayes entered in the sixth and retired two of the three batters she faced, including one strikeout.

Kent State will play five games at the Liberty Classic next weekend as it gets ready for the beginning of Mid-American Conference play the following weekend.