Softball Walks Off in Series-Opening Win over Buffalo

Friday, April 22

Kent, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Kent State University

26-17, 9-6

University at Buffalo

14-28, 8-7

Buffalo

Kent State

Photo by: Dave Warren

Softball Walks Off in Series-Opening Win over Buffalo

4/22/2016 6:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

KENT, Ohio – Sophomore Holly Speers' clutch double in the bottom of the seventh inning brought in two runs and gave Kent State a 3-2 walk-off victory over visiting Buffalo in the opener of a three-game series Friday at the Diamond at Dix.

After dropping a pair of one-run games to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the Golden Flashes (26-17, 9-6 MAC) were able to deliver consecutive hits with the game on the line to come out on the positive end of a one-run contest and earn a key Mid-American Conference victory over the Bulls (14-28, 8-7 MAC).

"We were able to learn from Wednesday's games and pull out a big win this afternoon," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "You obviously want to win every game, but every conference game is so important as we get closer to the end of the season. Maddy's home run got us on the board and helped us build some momentum. Arika's hit to start the seventh was huge, Hunter did her job laying down a good sacrifice bunt and Maddy showed good patience to get on base. Holly has come through in those situations in the past and she jumped on the first pitch she liked."

Both teams collected seven hits in the game. Speers led the way for the Flashes with two hits and Buffalo's Savanna Norcio also had a pair of hits. As it has been in recent games, moving runners around the bases was a problem, as Kent State left eight runners on base.

The Flashes failed to take advantage of an opportunity for a big inning in the second after back-to-back errors and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. However, a pop-up on the infield ended the inning and kept the game scoreless.

Buffalo made Kent State pay and struck quickly for two runs in the top of the third with a triple, hit by pitch and double by the first three batters of the frame.

Starting pitcher Ronnie Ladines settled in after that and retired the next 10 batters she faced. Ladines allowed just two singles the rest of the way.

"Ronnie pitched a great game today, and I was confident that she was going to close it out to give our offense a shot to win it," Oakley said. "She has been pitching really well as of late and that helps take some pressure off of our hitters."

Junior Maddy Grimm put the Flashes on the board with a solo home run in the fifth inning, her 14th long ball of the season.

Kent State threatened in the sixth when Ladines hit a two-out double to left field and pinch runner Sydney Anderson moved to third on a single back at the pitcher by senior Michele Duffy. Once again, the Flashes were unable to get the timely hit they needed, and a groundout ended the inning.

Senior Arika Roush started the final inning with a chopper through the middle. After a sacrifice bunt by Hunter Brancifort advanced Roush into scoring position, Grimm worked a full count walk to put the winning run on base. Speers didn't waste time in the batter's box and lined the first pitch she saw past the centerfielder to allow Roush and Grimm to score.

Ladines threw a complete game to improve to 15-6 on the season. She struck out five batters and did not issue any walks while allowing two runs on seven hits.

Kent State and Buffalo will complete the series with a doubleheader at the Diamond at Dix Saturday at 1 p.m.