Kent State University
10-1
University of Louisville
7-4
Flashes Use Long Ball to Defeat Louisville, 13-9
2/26/2016 9:26:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kent State offense erupted in a 13-9 win over host Louisville on the opening day of the Red & Black Classic Friday evening to improve to 10-1 and set a program record for the best 11-game start to a season. The Golden Flashes set a season-high for runs scored and tied their season-high with 12 hits, including five home runs.
Maddy Grimm was the offensive catalyst with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate that included a double and two home runs for six RBIs. Grimm, who walked in her other two plate appearances, scored three runs. Her second homer of the game placed her in a tie with Jessica Carmichael (2008-11) and Jamie Fitzpatrick (2005-08) as Kent State's all-time home leaders with 36.
Jen Cader, Shelbi Tilton and Erika Warren also homered for the Flashes. It was the first collegiate home run for Cader, a freshman from Hatboro, Pa. Tilton and Warren had two hits each, and Tilton drove in three runs.
"This was a good start to the weekend," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "These were two good teams going at it today. It was just one of those days when you felt like you were going to need every run, and I was pleased with our adjustments at the plate after the first time through the order. Maddy Grimm had a huge day and Shelbi Tilton had two clutch hits when we needed insurance runs."
Louisville got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run by the Cardinals' second batter of the game.
The Flashes found success the second time through the batting order, as Michele Duffy was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the third. Arika Roush singled through the left side of the infield for Kent State's first hit of the game. Grimm then launched a three-run bomb to left-center to put the Flashes ahead, 3-2.
The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double and two groundouts.
Kent State put six on the board, including four with two outs, in the top of the fourth. Warren singled, Duffy reached on an error and Roush drew a walk to load the bases. Grimm doubled to bring in two runs for a 5-3 lead. After Louisville got the second out of the inning, Shelbi Tilton singled the opposite way to bring two more runs in. Bailey Brownfield followed with a single and Ronnie Ladines made it three consecutive singles, bringing in pinch runner Vanessa Scoarste. Warren then reached on another Louisville error to score another run and give Kent State a 9-3 lead.
The hosts were determined not to go away and answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
After an uncharacteristic scoreless fifth inning, Tilton, Warren and Cader all hit solo home runs to provide insurance runs for the Flashes in the top of the sixth for a 12-7 lead.
A single, double and another single scored a run for Louisville and placed runners on the corners with only one out in the bottom of the inning. Duffy made a nice defensive play to bring the inning to an end, tagging out the runner headed to second base after fielding a groundball and then throwing to first to complete the double play.
Grimm hit her record-tying home run, a solo shot, in the top of the seventh to make it 13-8 Flashes.
Down to their final three outs, Louisville's bats kept swinging. A leadoff single and throwing error was followed by another single to put runners on the corners. Duffy once again made a big defensive play, fielding a grounder and turning a 4-3 double play. Although a run scored, the Cardinals were down to their final out. The next batter flied out to Cader in right field to end the game.
Kent State was outhit in the game, 14-12. However, the Flashes only left seven runners on base compared to nine for the Cardinals. Kent State committed just one error, resulting in one unearned run. Louisville had three errors, which led to five unearned runs.
Janel Hayes (3-1) entered in the fourth and pitched the final 3.1 innings to earn the victory for the Flashes. Hayes allowed just one earned run and one walk on six hits. Ronnie Ladines started and threw 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. Ladines struck out four and walked five.
Kent State is back in action at the Red & Black Classic on Saturday with games against Cleveland State (11 a.m.) and North Dakota State (5 p.m.).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hayes, Janel (3-1)
L: Becker (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Grimm, Maddy 1
HR: Grimm, Maddy 2 ; Tilton, Shelbi 1 ; Warren, Erika 1 ; Cader, Jen 1
RBI: Grimm, Maddy 6 ; Tilton, Shelbi 3 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1 ; Warren, Erika 1 ; Cader, Jen 1
SH: Roush, Arika 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duffy, Michele 2 ; Roush, Arika 2 ; Grimm, Maddy 3 ; Tilton, Shelbi 1 ; Scoarste, Vanessa 1 ; Brownfield, Bailey 1 ; Warren, Erika 1 ; Luther, Allie 1 ; Cader, Jen 1
HBP: Duffy, Michele 1
Batting:
2B: Becker 1 ; Hart 1 ; Goetz 1 ; Vorbrink 1
HR: Pufahl 1
RBI: Pufahl 2 ; Becker 1 ; Goetz 1 ; Sims 2 ; Vorbrink 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McNary 2 ; Pufahl 1 ; Becker 1 ; Hart 2 ; Adell 1 ; Goetz 1 ; Meyer 1
