Kent State University
20-6, 1-0
Buffalo
7-21, 0-1
Long Ball Propels Flashes to MAC-Opening Sweep of Buffalo
3/29/2015 7:46:00 PM | Softball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State softball team belted six home runs on its way to sweeping a doubleheader with Buffalo to open Mid-American Conference play Sunday afternoon at the Diamond at Dix. The Golden Flashes came from behind for a 6-4 win in the first game of the day and held off a late rally to win the second game, 7-3.
Kent State (21-6) has now won nine straight and is 2-0 to start the conference season for the first time since 2012.
Sophomore Janel Hayes led the offense with two home runs and five RBI. Maddy Grimm, Kim Kirkpatrick, Ronnie Ladines and Katlyn Purvis also homered. Kirkpatrick also scored four runs and had four stolen bases. Hayes and Kirkpatrick both went 4-for-7 at the plate on the day.
Game 1: Kent State 6, Buffalo 4
Buffalo jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a leadoff walk and two-out home run by Hayley Barrow.
Kent State took advantage of a Buffalo mistake to cut its deficit in half in the top of the second. After reaching on an error, Kim Kirkpatrick swiped second to move into scoring position. Holly Speers followed with a single up the middle to bring Kirkpatrick home.
The Flashes took the lead in the fourth, which was once again led off by Kirkpatrick. This time, Kirkpatrick did not need help in reaching and hit a hard shot back at the pitcher for a single. She advanced to third after another stolen base and a wild pitch. Lauren Kesterson drew a walk and then stole second to move into scoring position. The extra base would not make a difference, as Janel Hayes stepped in and homered to center to give Kent State a 4-2 lead.
Another leadoff walk by Kent State starting pitcher Emma Johnson came back to hurt her in the fifth. After advancing to third base on a single down the left field line, a sacrifice fly brought in a run to make it 4-3.
The Flashes would provide more run support in the sixth. Ronnie Ladines smoked a line drive that struck the scoreboard beyond the fence in left field, and Maddy Grimm followed with a homer to left field of her own to go ahead 6-3.
Buffalo refused to go away and responded with a solo home run of its own in the sixth. Two walks and a hit batter gave the Bulls an opportunity to walkoff in the bottom of the seventh, but Johnson was able to get a strikeout to end the game.
Johnson (10-3) recorded 14 of 21 outs via strikeout. She was terrific again with the exception of the two long balls, allowing only five hits.
Game 2: Kent State 7, Buffalo 3
Kent State never trailed after plating a run in the top of the first inning. Dani Ramos just missed her first career home run, instead hitting a triple off the fence in right field. Michele Duffy brought Ramos home on a sacrifice fly to left-center. The Flashes threatened to do even more damage and loaded the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning.
A fielding error by Buffalo put a runner aboard for Kim Kirkpatrick, who crushed the ball over the fence in center field. Two batters later, Katlyn Purvis hit the first home run of her collegiate career to take a 4-0 lead.
Buffalo got on the board in the bottom of the third on a walk, stolen base and double.
Janel Hayes added a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning and a sacrifice bunt by Duffy brought Ramos home to make it 7-1 in the sixth.
Ronnie Ladines (7-3) allowed just two earned runs and had six strikeouts while not walking a batter. Ladines allowed 10 hits but did an excellent job of preventing runners to advance. Alyssa Frankenfield was terrific in two innings of relief duty. Frankenfield stymied a Buffalo rally, as she retired all three batters she faced after entering in the sixth inning. She finished with three strikeouts and did not allow a hit in two innings.
Kent State will go back on the road to continue MAC play next weekend (April 3-5) with two games against both Ball State and Miami.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Emma (10-3)
L: BARROW, Hayley (1-6)
Batting:
HR: Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Hayes, Janel 1 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
RBI: Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Speers, Holly 1 ; Hayes, Janel 3 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Kirkpatrick, Kim 2 ; Kesterson, Lauren 1 ; Hayes, Janel 1 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
SB: Ramos, Dani 1 ; Kirkpatrick, Kim 2 ; Kesterson, Lauren 1
Batting:
HR: BARROW, Hayley 1 ; GAMBONE, Lauren 1
RBI: CURTISS, Alexis 1 ; BARROW, Hayley 2 ; GAMBONE, Lauren 1
SF: CURTISS, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: NORCIO, Savanna 1 ; BARROW, Hayley 1 ; GAMBONE, Lauren 1 ; JEW, Leandra 1
SB: NEVEZ, Karly 1
HBP: EARNHARDT, Ashton 1 ; GAMBONE, Lauren 1
