Kent State University
14-5
University of Maine
6-9
Balanced Offense Leads Flashes to 2-0 Day 1 at USF Spring Break Tournament
3/18/2016 9:54:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Kent State softball received contributions throughout the lineup and solid pitching performances to win both games on the opening day at the USF Clearwater Spring Break Tournament on Friday. The Golden Flashes beat Maine, 6-3, in the first game of the day and then defeated Hartford, 6-2.
Eight Flashes combined for 12 hits. Freshman Hunter Brancifort led the way, going 3-for-5 at the plate. Junior Maddy Grimm and freshman Sydney Anderson added two hits each.
Kent State trailed 1-0 in both games, but responded immediately with runs in the bottom half of the same inning both times. Grimm scored three runs, while freshman Bailey Brownfield, senior Michele Duffy and senior Arika Roush all scored twice. The Flashes capitalized on seven opponent errors and turned them into eight unearned runs.
Game 1: Kent State 6, Maine 3
A leadoff walk to start the game allowed Maine to score in the first frame without getting a hit. The leadoff batter moved to third base on a wild pitch and stolen base, then scored on a sacrifice fly hit to right field.
Kent State answered with four runs in the bottom of the first. Likewise, the Flashes did not need a hit to score their first run. A hit batter and back-to-back walks loaded the bases, and Shelbi Tilton brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly to left field. A double by Bailey Brownfield put Kent State ahead, 2-1. Ronnie Ladines then hit a shot to the wall that was dropped by the leftfielder and allowed two more runs to score.
The Flashes committed a pair of errors in the top of the fifth inning to allow Maine to score and make it a 4-2 game.
However, the Black Bears made an error of their own to start the bottom of the inning, and the Flashes had a runner in scoring position following a sacrifice bunt. Maddy Grimm and Hunter Brancifort then delivered consecutive doubles to plate two more runs.
Maine added another run in the sixth inning for the final score.
Ronnie Ladines (9-1) threw a complete game with five strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on seven hits and three walks.
Game 2: Kent State 6, Hartford 2
A leadoff double in the top of the third resulted in a run and 1-0 Hartford lead following a two-out single later in the inning.
Kent State batted around and scored six runs in the bottom of the inning to take control of the game. Sydney Anderson started the rally with a single. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Arika Roush put two runners in scoring position. Michele Duffy brought both of her teammates in with a double. Following a walk, Maddy Grimm came through with an RBI single. A misplay on a ball hit to the shortstop allowed a fourth run to score before an out was recorded. Grimm scored on an illegal pitch and Nicki Cregan added an RBI single.
A single, hit batter, wild pitch and sacrifice fly allowed Hartford to score again in the sixth inning.
Janel Hayes (5-4) went the distance for Kent State and allowed just one earned run. Hayes had four strikeouts and issued one walk. She allowed five hits.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will take on Northwestern at 11:45 a.m. and South Florida at 2:15 p.m. in Saturday's action in Clearwater.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ladines, Ronnie (9-1)
L: Flowers, Molly (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Harvey, Rachel 1 ; Lennon, Felicia 1
RBI: Leonard, Erika 1 ; Bouchard, Janelle 1
SF: Leonard, Erika 1 ; Bouchard, Janelle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leonard, Erika 2 ; Royle, Meghan 1
SB: Leonard, Erika 1 ; Lennon, Felicia 1
HBP: Moore, Maddie 1
Batting:
2B: Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Brancifort, Hunter 1 ; Brownfield, Bailey 1
RBI: Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Brancifort, Hunter 1 ; Tilton, Shelbi 1 ; Brownfield, Bailey 1
SH: Roush, Arika 1
SF: Tilton, Shelbi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duffy, Michele 1 ; Roush, Arika 1 ; Grimm, Maddy 2 ; Brancifort, Hunter 1 ; Brownfield, Bailey 1
HBP: Roush, Arika 1
