Kent State University
Princeton
Softball Heads to Liberty Classic
3/19/2015 11:42:00 PM | Softball
Kent State will play five games at the Liberty Classic for its final weekend of non-conference competition.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 20
12:00 p.m.   Kent State vs. Princeton – Live Stats    Â
3:15 p.m.     Kent State vs. North Carolina Central – Live Stats
Saturday, March 21
11:00 a.m.   Kent State vs. Quinnipiac – Live Stats   Â
2:30 p.m.     Kent State vs. Rider – Live Stats  Â
Sunday, March 22
1 p.m.          Kent State vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) – Live Stats  Â
Golden Flashes Receive Votes in National Poll
Kent State was rewarded for its win over No. 3 Michigan on Saturday with votes in this week's ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, which was released on Tuesday (March 17). The Golden Flashes have true road victories over nationally-ranked teams in back-to-back weekends after knocking off No. 17 UCF on March 6.
Last Time Out
In one of the biggest regular season wins in program history, Kent State spoiled the home opener for No. 3 Michigan with a 3-0 win in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader. Michigan came back to win Game 2, 10-1, in five innings and then take Sunday's rubber match, 4-1.Â
Emma Johnson was once again dominant in Saturday's opener and recorded the fifth shutout of her last six starts. Johnson had just four strikeouts but used her rise-ball effectively to get 13 fly ball outs, as she allowed just three hits in the victory. She returned to the pitcher's circle on Sunday and threw five strong innings before giving up two home runs in the sixth. Johnson finished the weekend with 12 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.
Maddy Grimm went 3-for-3 with two home runs to provide all of the scoring in the Flashes' Game 1 win. Grimm helped the Flashes steal momentum with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. She doubled in her next at-bat and then added a solo shot to right-center in the sixth.
Michele Duffy led the Flashes with a .429 batting average (3-for-7) over the three games. Duffy doubled in Game 2 on Saturday and hit her first home run of the season to give Kent State a 1-0 lead on Sunday.
Dani Ramos and Erika Warren had two hits each. Ramos delivered a clutch two-out triple that scored a run and prevented a shutout in Game 2 on Saturday.
Pitching Staff Among National Leaders
Kent State's pitching staff has performed this season and ranks sixth in the country with a 1.54 earned run average and is holding opponents to a .171 batting average.
Senior Emma Johnson (6-3) is the ace of the staff and has recorded 94 strikeouts in just 58.1 innings. Johnson ranks third in the nation in shutouts (5), fourth in strikeouts per seven innings (11.3), sixth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.12) and ninth in ERA (0.96).
Sophomore Janel Hayes (1-0) allowed just one run in her only start of the season and has a 0.88 ERA, but has thrown only 8.0 innings and does not qualify for the national rankings
Junior Alyssa Frankenfield (2-0) is having her best season as a Golden Flash. Frankenfield has a 2.06 ERA and a save. Sophomore Ronnie Ladines (3-3) has a 2.42 ERA and has allowed more than two earned runs in just one of seven starts.
Offensive Leaders
Four Golden Flashes are hitting better than .300, led by junior Michele Duffy. Batting .388, Duffy also leads the team with 19 hits and a .464 on-base percentage and is second with 10 RBI.
Sophomore Maddy Grimm brings power to the Flashes' lineup with a team-high 4 home runs and 13 RBI despite missing the first weekend of the season. Grimm also leads the Flashes with six walks and a .781 slugging percentage. She is second on the team with a .344 batting average and .425 on-base percentage.
Senior Dani Ramos is Kent State's leader with 15 runs scored, 9 stolen bases and 2 triples. Fellow Kim Kirkpatrick also has 2 triples and 3 doubles to share the team lead with freshman Holly Speers.
Flashes Racking Up Honors
Several Golden Flashes have been recognized for their outstanding play during the early part of the 2015 season. Senior Emma Johnson has received MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week each of the past three weeks and also was named MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on March 11. Additionally, Johnson garnered national attention and was included in an ESPNW's "NCAA Softball: 5 Things You Need to Know" heading into the series at No. 3 Michigan.              Â
Senior Kim Kirkpatrick has been named MAC East Division Player of the Week by the conference and sophomore Maddy Grimm was named MAC Player of the Week by CollegeSportsMadness.com two weeks ago.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play in the state of Ohio for the first time with a doubleheader at Youngstown State scheduled for Wednesday, March 25. The Flashes then open Mid-American Conference play with two games at Buffalo this weekend.
