Softball Loses Early Lead in Setback to First-Place RedHawks

Friday, April 15

Oxford, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Kent State University

24-14, 7-5

Miami University (OH)

24-14, 9-2

Kent State

Miami

Photo by: Dave Warren

Softball Loses Early Lead in Setback to First-Place RedHawks

4/15/2016 8:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

OXFORD, Ohio – Kent State's early 2-0 lead was short-lived and a big bottom of the second inning allowed host Miami to go ahead for good in a 10-5 victory Friday afternoon.

Both teams had 10 hits in the game, but the RedHawks were able to string hits together, while the Golden Flashes (24-14, 7-5 MAC) relied on the long ball to score.

"Miami did a much better job of getting timely hits today, and that was the difference in the game," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "We had the same number of hits, but they found ways to score with two outs, while we left the bases loaded twice and had 10 runners left on base total."

While Kent State was 0-for-2 with the bases loaded, Miami (24-14, 9-2 MAC) was 3-for-5 and scored six runs with the bases juiced. The RedHawks collected hits all three times they faced the situation with two outs.

Both teams found the most success with two outs. Kent State was 6-for-14 and scored four runs with two outs, while Miami was 6-for-12 and scored seven runs.

The Flashes started the two-out scoring trend in the opening frame, as junior Maddy Grimm singled and moved to second on an error that extended the inning. Senior Shelbi Tilton took advantage of the miscue and scored Grimm with a single up the middle.

Senior Michele Duffy made it 2-0 with her first home run of the season, a two-out solo shot to left field.

The first three batters Miami sent to the plate in the bottom of the second reached safely to load the bases. Kent State starting pitcher Janel Hayes retired the next two batters and was one out from getting out of the jam unscathed. However, the RedHawks collected three straight singles to score five runs and take a 5-2 lead.

Kent State had a chance for a big inning in the fourth, but a two-out walk drawn by Duffy to load the bases was followed by a strikeout.

Walks to Miami's first two batters in the bottom of the inning proved costly, as Taylor Shuey sent a bomb over the center field wall for an 8-2 lead.

Grimm moved into a tie for fifth in Mid-American Conference history with her 44th career home run in the fifth inning to cut it to 8-3. Back-to-back singles and a walk with two outs provided the Flashes with an opportunity for a big inning, but a groundout ended the threat.

Miami threatened to end the game in the sixth after a two-run single by Kat Lee made it a 10-3 game and placed the winning run 60 feet from home plate. However, Hayes was able to get a fly ball out and give the Flashes a final chance to rally.

Down to the final out, freshman Kiley Harrison sent a bomb to right field to score the final two runs for her first collegiate home run.

Tilton was 3-for-3 at the plate to lead three Kent State players with multiple hits. Grimm had two hits and also scored twice, while Duffy reached in all three of her trips to the plate with two hits and a walk.

Janel Hayes (9-10) started the game and re-entered in the fifth after being replaced with two outs in the second. Hayes pitched 3.2 innings total and allowed five earned runs on eight hits. Ronnie Ladines threw 2.1 relief innings and had four strikeouts. Ladines allowed three runs on two hits and walked two batters.

Kent State and Miami will conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can listen to the first game on Golden Flashes Radio.