Kent State University
Miami University (OH)
MAC East Lead Up for Grabs in Weekend Series at Miami
4/15/2016 12:03:00 PM | Softball
Kent State (24-13, 7-4 MAC) aims to move into first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division as it goes on the road for a three-game series at Miami. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes won the 2015 MAC regular season championship, but the RedHawks (23-14, 8-2 MAC) were named the MAC East favorite in the preseason coaches' poll. Miami has won three of series to start the conference season, while Kent State has won two, lost one and split a shortened two-game series with Eastern Michigan.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, April 15
3 p.m. Kent State at Miami – Live Stats Audio
Saturday, April 16
1 p.m. Kent State at Miami – Live Stats Audio
3 p.m. Kent State at Miami – Live Stats
Last Time Out
Kent State grinded out a 5-4 walk-off victory in nine innings Wednesday at the Diamond at Dix to avoid being swept in the season series by Ohio and move ahead of the Bobcats in the conference standings.
After falling behind 3-0 before picking up the bats for the first time, Kent State got one run back in the bottom of the first inning. The Golden Flashes took a 4-3 lead in a wild fourth inning that included one hit, two walks, two hit batters, two errors and a passed ball. That lone hit, a bloop single off the bat of sophomore Holly Speers, brought in the go-ahead run, but the next two batters struck out to leave the bases loaded.
Down to their final out, Ohio put together back-to-back infield singles and then drew back-to-back walks to score the tying run and force extra innings.
Senior Erika Warren came through in the clutch with a two-out single back through the circle to score senior Shelbi Tilton from second and give the Flashes the walk-off victory.
Although Kent State was outhit, 8-7, it received quality at-bats throughout the lineup and forced Ohio starting pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey to be removed after just 3.1 innings. The Flashes drew seven walks and were hit by a pitch three times. Seven players reached base safely at least twice. Tilton had a team-high two hits
In the circle, junior Janel Hayes allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings, but received a no decision. Junior Ronnie Ladines was the winning pitcher and threw 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Scouting Miami (23-14, 8-2 MAC)
• Miami got back on track with a 6-0 win at Bowling Green on Wednesday following a 3-1 loss at Western Michigan on Saturday.
• The RedHawks are 8-4 at home this season and 5-0 at home in MAC play.
• Miami ranks among the top 50 in the country in scoring (5.76 runs per game), doubles per game (1.59), triples per game (0.27), home runs per game (1.08), slugging percentage (.496) and fielding percentage (.974).
• In MAC games, the RedHawks lead the conference with 73 runs scored, 17 home runs and a .325 batting average.
• OF Taylor Shuey is among the MAC leaders in several categories and ranks among the top 5 in batting average (.415), hits 949), doubles (11), triples (3) and RBIs (34). Shuey also leads the RedHawks in slugging percentage (.686) and on-base percentage (.474).
• INF Michaela Schlattman is batting .333 and leads Miami with 9 home runs, 27 runs scored and 21 walks.
• INF Johniann Wahl is second on the team with 10 doubles and 30 RBIs.
• C Rylee Whispel has appeared in just 20 games and is batting .425 with 4 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBIs.
• P Amber Logemann (15-7) is tied for the MAC lead with 3 saves and is third in wins and ERA (2.48). Logemann has recorded 110 strikeouts, which is fifth in the MAC, in 127 innings.
Series History vs. Miami
• Kent State is 50-52 all-time vs. Miami.
• The teams split last season's pair of games in Oxford. Kent State won the first game, 9-1, and Miami won the second game, 4-3.
• Maddy Grimm was 7-for-7 over the two games with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs. Holly Speers homered twice and had five RBIs in the first game.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State starts a seven-game homestand next Wednesday (April 20) with a doubleheader against Pittsburgh. First pitch at the Diamond at Dix is scheduled for 3 p.m.
