Kent State University
30-18, 12-6
Bowling Green
18-31, 6-12
Softball Uses Eight-Run First Inning to Down Falcons
4/29/2016 5:19:00 PM | Softball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State scored eight runs before host Bowling Green even sent a player into the batter's box en route to a 9-0 victory in five inning Friday afternoon. Senior Arika Roush homered twice and Ronnie Ladines added a grand slam as each player drove in four runs in the opening frame.
"Our overall approach at the plate was solid, and we had great execution with runners on," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "Arika's first home run was a great spark to start our offense. Ronnie is swinging a great bat right now and continues to pitch very well."
Roush homered to left-center to get the game started. After an out, the Golden Flashes put together three straight singles to load the bases. Junior Ronnie Ladines made sure they were not loaded for long and hit a grand slam to left field, her second home run of the season.
Freshman Bailey Brownfield followed with a single. A failed sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in the second out of the inning, but freshman Kiley Harrison drew a walk to keep the inning alive. Roush stepped into the box and sent another blast to left field to make it an 8-0 game.
This is the second time this season that Kent State has hit three home runs in one inning. Shelbi Tilton, Erika Warren and Jen Cader each hit solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning at Louisville on February 26.
Neither team managed to get more than one runner aboard until the top of the fifth inning. A leadoff single by senior Shelbi Tilton was followed by a double from Ladines. Brownfield then hit a sacrifice fly that scored pinch runner Sydney Anderson and gave Kent State a 9-0 lead.
Ladines (17-7) recorded her seventh shutout of the season. She struck out eight batters and did not issue any walks while allowing five hits.
The Flashes collected seven of their 11 hits in the first inning. Roush led the way with a 3-for-4 performance that included two home runs. Ladines went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double. Brownfield was 2-for-2 at the plate.
Kent State and Bowling Green will complete the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ladines, Ronnie (17-7)
L: DILLOW (6-10)
Batting:
2B: Ladines, Ronnie 1
HR: Roush, Arika 2 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
RBI: Roush, Arika 4 ; Ladines, Ronnie 4 ; Brownfield, Bailey 1
SF: Brownfield, Bailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roush, Arika 2 ; Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Speers, Holly 1 ; Tilton, Shelbi 1 ; Anderson, Sydney 1 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1 ; Harrison, Kiley 1 ; Brancifort, Hunter 1
Batting:
2B: DILLOW 1
