Flashes Knock Off No. 15 UCF as Part of 2-0 Day One in Orlando

Friday, March 6

Orlando, Fla.

1 p.m.

Kent State University

9-2

Bradley

4-15

Kent State

Bradley

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Knock Off No. 15 UCF as Part of 2-0 Day One in Orlando

3/6/2015 8:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

ORLANDO, Fla. – Kent State improved to 10-2 on the season after a big 8-1 win over Bradley and a 1-0 victory over No. 15 UCF on Friday on the opening day of the UCF Knights Invitational. The Golden Flashes have now won eight consecutive games.

The pitching duo of Ronnie Ladines and Emma Johnson dominated the day by not allowing an earned run to come across in either game. Each hurler also only allowed two hits by the opposition.

Maddy Grimm provided Kent State's big bat with a home run in each contest and four total RBI as part of the Golden Flashes' 16 hits on the day. Kim Kirkpatrick, Dani Ramos and Erika Warren joined Grimm with three hits apiece.

"Today was a great start to the weekend picking up two wins," said head coach Karen Linder. "Beating a ranked opponent should give us a lot of confidence but we still have a lot of work to do. Maddy got the offense going in both games and Ronnie and Emma gave us very good performances."

Game 1: Kent State 8, Bradley 1
Kent State started scoring early and often in the win over Bradley, beginning with a two-run shot to left field in the top of the first inning by Maddy Grimm, her first of the season.

After Bradley scored a run in the bottom of the first, the Flashes added four runs in the top of the second. After Holly Speers doubled and Lauren Kesterson walked to put two on with two outs, Kim Kirkpatrick tripled both runners home. Dani Ramos followed with a RBI single, and then came home herself on a base hit by Grimm.

Kent State scored again in the third after another Speers double and a RBI base hit by Erika Warren. The team's final run came across in the seventh on a throwing error after two walks to begin the inning.

Bradley's lone run came in the 1^st on an error that left Kent State pitcher Ladines with a perfect ERA on the day. She went the full seven innings on the mound with five hits, one walk and four strikeouts to improve to 3-1 on the season.

The Golden Flashes racked up 13 hits in the game with Kirkpatrick and Ramos leading the way with three each.

Game 2: Kent State 1, #15 UCF 0
Maddy Grimm's solo home run to left center in the top of the first inning provided the only run of the game, as the teams combined for just five hits.

Emma Johnson (4-1) dominated with 18 strikeouts in a complete game effort while allowing just two hits and two walks.

Kent State continues play at the UCF Knights Invitational on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against Michigan State, followed by a rematch against the host Knights at 5:30 p.m.