Flashes Break Out the Bats in DH Split with First-Place Miami

Saturday, April 16

Oxford, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Kent State University

24-15, 7-6

Miami University (OH)

25-14, 10-2

Kent State

Miami

Photo by: Dave Warren

Flashes Break Out the Bats in DH Split with First-Place Miami

4/16/2016 7:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

OXFORD, Ohio – Kent State handed first-place Miami its first home loss of the Mid-American Conference season in earning a doubleheader split on Saturday. The Golden Flashes lost the first game of the day, 7-5, and bounced back to win the nightcap, 9-6.

"The MAC continues to be very balanced, and every game matters," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "Getting the win in Game 2 today was big in terms of keeping us in contention. We finally got the timely hits we needed, and that made the difference. Shelbi [Tilton] swung the bat well all weekend, and it's great to see a senior step up this time of the season."

The first game was déjà vu for Kent State (25-15, 8-6 MAC), which was unable to maintain an early lead just like in the opening game of the series on Friday. Miami took the lead with six unanswered runs and the Flashes' seventh-inning rally came up short.

The third time was the charm for Kent State, which used a five-run fifth inning to hold off another Miami come-from-behind effort and avoid the series sweep.

Kent State's offense, which collected 15 hits on the day, got key contributions from the first three batters in its lineup. Senior Arika Roush, freshman Hunter Brancifort and junior Maddy Grimm totaled seven hits, four RBIs, nine runs scored and 11 times on-base. Grimm had three hits and drove in two runs on a double and a solo home run, while also drawing a pair of walks and scoring four times. Roush had two hits, two RBIs, two runs and was hit by a pitch twice. Brancifort had two hits and scored three runs.

Senior Shelbi Tilton followed Friday's 3-for-3 performance with three more hits on Saturday. Tilton had a double and a team-high four RBIs.

Kent State's pitching was not at its best, but it would have been good enough for the sweep had it not been for defensive miscues that gave Miami extra chances. The Flashes committed two errors in each game, which resulted in six unearned runs for the day.

Game 1: Miami 7, Kent State 5
Kent State continued to struggle producing runs with the bases loaded and left them that way in three frames. The Golden Flashes scored just two runs after loading the bases in the second and fourth innings to allow Miami to stay close.

The Flashes scored first, as Arika Roush was hit by a pitch after three singles loaded the bases in the top of the second.

Miami tied the game with a solo home run in the third inning.

Kent State answered with a run in the top of the fourth, but that was all despite having the bases loaded with only one out. Two Miami errors and a hit batter loaded the bases once again for Roush, who singled through the left side to score pinch runner Emily Dobbin. However, the next two batters struck out to end the inning.

Miami needed just two hits to score four runs in the bottom of the fourth, as it took advantage of three walks, two errors and one wild pitch by the Flashes.

The RedHawks added to their lead in the sixth. A single, double and walk loaded the bases, and Lauren Anderson brought in two runs with a single through the left side. After another walk, the Flashes turned a 1-2-3 double play to head to their final trip to the plate trailing 7-2.

The Flashes fought back and had the tying run in scoring position with just one out, but left the bases loaded for the third time in the game. It started with a bunt single by Roush. Hunter Brancifort followed with an infield single and Maddy Grimm was walked to load the bases and prompt a pitching change. Holly Speers also drew a walk to bring in Roush. After a flyout, Bailey Brownfield added an infield single to score another run. Sydney Anderson replaced her at first and represented the tying run. Erika Warren reached on an error to make it 7-5. The next two batters were then retired to end the rally.

Roush led the Flashes with two hits and two RBIs while also scoring one run.

Ronnie Ladines (14-5) went the distance in the circle for Kent State, allowing four earned run over six innings. Ladines recorded five strikeouts but struggled with her control and allowed eight hits and seven walks.\

Game 2: Kent State 9, Miami 6
Kent State carried its momentum from the seventh inning of Game 1 into the nightcap and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame. The first three batters of the game reached to load the bases, and Holly Speers drew a walk to go ahead 1-0. Shelbi Tilton and Bailey Brownfield both followed with a sacrifice fly to score two more runs.

Maddy Grimm moved into sole possession of fifth in MAC history with her 45th career home run in the third inning to extend the lead to 4-0.

Miscommunication and a collision on a fly ball to shallow right field that would have ended the inning allowed Miami to score twice in the fourth.

The Golden Flashes responded in a big way by plating five runs in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff single by Michele Duffy and a popped up bunt for an out, Hunter Brancifort singled to left field. Grimm brought Duffy home from second with a double to right-center. Speers walked again and Tilton delivered a clutch bases-clearing double to left-center. Ronnie Ladines added a RBI single later in the inning to make it 9-2.

The RedHawks scored three in the fifth after the first two batters of the inning were retired. Ladines entered in relief for the Flashes and needed just one pitch to record the final out.

Miami scored one more in the sixth. Two singles and an error loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly brought in a run to make it 9-6. Ladines struck out the next batter and then got three fly ball outs in the seventh to preserve the win.

Janel Hayes (10-10) earned the victory for Kent State and threw 4.2 innings, allowing five earned run on eight hits with two strikeouts. Ronnie Ladines threw the final 2.1 innings in relief and allowed just one unearned run on two hits.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State starts a seven-game homestand at the Diamond at Dix with a 3 p.m. doubleheader against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.