Middle of Lineup Leads Softball Past LIU Brooklyn, 6-3

Sunday, March 20

Clearwater, Fla.

9:00 a.m.

Kent State University

17-6

LIU Brooklyn

11-19

Kent State

LIU Brooklyn

Photo by: Dave Warren

Middle of Lineup Leads Softball Past LIU Brooklyn, 6-3

3/20/2016 1:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

CLEARWATER, Fla. – A big day from the middle of the lineup led Kent State to a 6-3 victory over LIU Brooklyn Sunday morning at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. The Golden Flashes (17-6) conclude the weekend at the USF Spring Break Tournament with a 4-1 record.

Eight of Kent State's nine hits came from the 3-6 spots in the batting order. Freshman Bailey Brownfield singled in all three of her at-bats to lead the way, while senior Michele Duffy and junior Maddy Grimm both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Sophomore Holly Speers broke the game open with a home run for her lone hit of the day.

Grimm got the scoring started with a blast to left-center to start the second inning, her seventh home run of the season. Duffy and Brownfield followed with singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Ronnie Ladines. Erika Warren brought Duffy in to score with a sacrifice fly to center field.

LIU Brooklyn used a single, walk and single to plate a run in the bottom of the third. Another walk loaded the bases, but Ladines got a fly ball to center field to get out of the jam.

Emily Dobbin collected her first career extra-base hit with a double to lead off the fifth. A popped up sacrifice bunt attempt and a groundout followed, and the Blackbirds were in position to escape without allowing any runs. However, Speers homered to straightaway center to make it a 4-1 game. Grimm and Duffy followed with singles and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Both scored on a single through the right side by Brownfield.

The Blackbirds scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, but once again left the bases loaded.

Ronnie Ladines improved to 11-1 as she threw her 11th complete game in 12 starts. Ladines recorded three strikeouts and did a terrific job pitching out of jams, as the Blackbirds left 10 runners on base. She allowed eight hits and walked four batters.

Kent State will stay in the Sunshine State for a game at UCF at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.