Pair of Shutouts Give Flashes Series Sweep of Chippewas to Start MAC Season

Saturday, March 26

Kent, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

19-7, 2-0

Central Michigan University

13-14, 0-2

Central Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Pair of Shutouts Give Flashes Series Sweep of Chippewas to Start MAC Season

3/26/2016 7:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

KENT, Ohio – Outstanding pithing and an explosive offense allowed Kent State to sweep Central Michigan in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Diamond at Dix. The wins completed an impressive three-game sweep of the West Division favorite on the opening weekend of the Mid-American Conference season.

"Sweeping a good ball club like Central Michigan is a great way to start the MAC season," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "But we will take it for what it is — three conference wins. We didn't expect two shutouts coming into today, but Janel [Hayes] and Ronnie [Ladines] were terrific and pitched out of some tough spots. Offensively, Holly [Speers] was unbelievable all weekend and Maddy [Grimm] really stepped up in the second game."

Kent State (20-7, 3-0 MAC) was efficient on offense, scoring 13 runs on 13 hits, which included five home runs. The 3 through 5 batters in the lineup — Maddy Grimm, Holly Speers and Shelbi Tilton — combined for nine hits, two doubles, four home runs, nine RBIs and eight runs scored on the day. Grimm and Speers both homered twice and scored four runs. Speers was walked five times and hit a home run in both of her at-bats to extend her streak to five consecutive home runs. Tilton went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBIs.

Janel Hayes and Ronnie Ladines both recorded a shutout. The duo allowed 11 hits but limited free passes with just three walks and a hit batter and got out of multiple jams that resulted in 17 Chippewas left on base.

Game 1: Kent State 4, Central Michigan 0
Just as they did in Friday's series-opening win, Kent State's batters did a terrific job of working counts and drawing walks against Central Michigan starting pitcher Rachael Knapp. The junior had control issues and awarded five bases on balls in just two innings of work on Saturday.

The Flashes capitalized on those walks from the get-go, as Shelbi Tilton brought in two runs on a single to center field following three straight walks that loaded the bases in the bottom of the first.

Tilton doubled off the wall in the third, allowing Holly Speers to advance to third. Bailey Brownfield then hit a bouncer back to Knapp, who was unable to field the ball cleanly. Knapp turned to second base after picking the ball up, and Speers alertly sprinted home to make it a 3-0 game.

Speers added a solo homer to straightaway center in the fifth inning.

Janel Hayes (6-6) earned her first career complete game shutout and held the Chippewas to just five hits. Hayes had one strikeout and one walk.

Game 2: Kent State 9, Central Michigan 0 (6 innings)
Kent State showed its power throughout the lineup with four home runs in the weekend finale. After being pitched around and drawing walks in her first three at-bats, Holly Speers delivered a three-run walkoff home run over the left field wall to give the Golden Flashes a 9-0 win in six innings via the mercy rule.

Erika Warren got the scoring started for the Flashes with a solo homer in the second inning.

Maddy Grimm made it 3-0 with a two-run shot to left field in the third and added a solo home run to straightaway center in the fifth. A walk to Speers and single by Shelbi Tilton put a runner in scoring position. Bailey Brownfield ripped a single up the middle to bring Speers home, and Warren plated pinch runner Vanessa Scoarste with a single two batters later for a 6-0 lead.

Needing two runs to end the game entering the bottom of the sixth, Kent State sent the top of its batting lineup to the plate. After a flyout to right field, Arika Roush reached on an error. Grimm then followed with a line drive single to right and set the stage for Speers' walkoff.

Ronnie Ladines (13-1) threw her fourth shutout of the season and finished with seven strikeouts. Ladines walked two batters and allowed six hits, but made big pitches when she needed to get out of trouble. On three occasions, she escaped without allowing any runs after loading the bases with just one out. She caused Central Michigan to leave 11 runners on base in the game.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will play a mid-week doubleheader at Robert Morris on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.