Golden Flashes Take Two on Opening Day at Liberty Classic

Friday, March 20

Lynchburg, Va.

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

13-6

Princeton

5-11

Kent State

Princeton

Photo by: David Dermer

Golden Flashes Take Two on Opening Day at Liberty Classic

3/20/2015 6:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Kent State won its first two games of the Liberty Classic on Friday afternoon. The Golden Flashes defeated Princeton in the opener, 1-0, and followed with a 5-1 win over North Carolina Central.

Kent State (14-6) got outstanding pitching performances from Emma Johnson and Ronnie Ladines. A home run in the sixth inning of the second game was the only run allowed by the duo on the day.

Kim Kirkpatrick led the Flashes at the plate with three hits, two walks, two runs scored and one stolen base. Janel Hayes and Holly Speers were the only Flashes with a hit in both games.

"Both of our pitchers did a really good job of holding other teams down until our offense found a way to score," said head coach Karen Linder. "Janel Hayes and Erika Warren came up with big hits in first game. We had better at-bats in the second game and Kim Kirkpatrick really helped spark our offense."

Game 1: Kent State 1, Princeton 0
In the top of the fifth, Janel Hayes came through with a clutch two-out double and was replaced by Arika Roush. Erika Warren then singled to allow Roush to score the only run of the game.

Emma Johnson (7-3) had 14 strikeouts while allowing only two walks and four hits. Johnson has recorded a shutout in six of her last eight starts.

Princeton's best chance to score came in the bottom of the third. A leadoff single, sac bunt and walk put two runners on with only one out. However, Johnson came right back to strike out the next two batters and end the inning. The Tigers left six runners on base in the game.

Game 2: Kent State 5, NC Central 1
After being held without a run through three innings, Kent State scored in each of its final three at-bats. Kim Kirkpatrick drew a walk t leadoff the bottom of the fourth. Kirkpatrick advanced to second on a sac bunt and then scored when a fly ball hit to left field by Erika Warren was dropped.

Michele Duffy got the fifth started with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Kirkpatrick singled up the middle and Duffy was thrown out at the plate, which allowed Kirkpatrick to move to second. Holly Speers brought Kirkpatrick home to score on a single through the left side and advanced to second on a throw to the plate. Speers then stole third and was able to score when the throw got away.

Emerie Germ looked to keep the Eagles in the game with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning.

The Flashes came right back with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. A pair of walks put two runners on for Shelbi Tilton, who drove them in with a double to right field.

Ronnie Ladines (4-3) went the distance for the Flashes, and allowed just one run on six hits. Ladines struck out seven batters and had only one walk.

Kent State continues play at the Liberty Classic on Saturday with an 11 a.m. contest against Quinnipiac, followed by a matchup against Rider in the nightcap at 2:30 p.m.