Grimm’s Blast Lifts Golden Flashes to 5-0 Victory at Toledo

Sunday, April 26

Toledo, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

35-11, 0

Toledo

20-30, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kent State	0	0	3	0	0	0	2	5	8	0
Toledo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3

Photo by: David Dermer

Grimm’s Blast Lifts Golden Flashes to 5-0 Victory at Toledo

4/26/2015 5:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

TOLEDO, Ohio – Sophomore Maddy Grimm hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning and Kent State added two more in the seventh to beat Toledo, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon.

Kent State (35-11, 13-4 MAC) received another phenomenal pitching performance from senior Emma Johnson, who allowed just one hit while tossing her third consecutive shutout. The Flashes did not allow a run in any of their four games this weekend.

"I am really proud of the team this weekend," said head coach Karen Linder. "I am really happy with how we battled in close games. Having four shutouts in a row on the road is extremely difficult to do. The pitching and catching staffs did a great job, the defense made plays and we continued to get timely hitting. Our bench also deserves credit for staying focused and intense and being ready to do their jobs throughout the weekend."

Kent State took advantage of an error that would have ended the inning to get on the board in the third. After a single by senior Dani Ramos put two runners aboard, Grimm crushed her 16th homer of the season, tying the single-season RBIs record of 48 in the process.

The Flashes added insurance runs in the seventh, which started with a pinch hit single by senior Ariele Patterson. Kim Kirkpatrick brought her home on a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Rockets then elected to intentionally walk Grimm to bring freshman Holly Speers to the plate, who had popped up with the bases loaded in her previous at-bat. Speers was able to redeem herself with a single through the left side that allowed Kirkpatrick to score.

Batting in the first two spots in the Flashes' lineup, Kirkpatrick and Ramos provided a spark for the offense. Kirkpatrick collected two hits, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base, while Ramos had two hits, two stolen bases and a run.

In the circle, Johnson (18-5) recorded five strikeouts and extended her scoreless innings streak to 30. A leadoff single by Chandler Rice in the bottom of the fourth inning prevented Johnson from throwing her second no-hitter of the weekend.

"Emma was outstanding this weekend and it was great to see her shutout Toledo in back-to-back games," Linder added.

Kent State returns to the Diamond at Dix to conclude the regular season next weekend. The Flashes will host Western Michigan for a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday and then play single games against Northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday.