Grimm’s Seventh-Inning Blast Gives Flashes Series Victory Over Huskies

Sunday, April 3

DeKalb, Ill.

2:00 p.m.

Kent State University

22-10, 5-1

Northern Illinois University

23-10, 4-2

Kent State

Northern Illinois

Photo by: Dave Warren

Grimm’s Seventh-Inning Blast Gives Flashes Series Victory Over Huskies

4/3/2016 6:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

DEKALB, Ill. – Junior Maddy Grimm hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to give Kent State a 4-3 victory over Northern Illinois in Sunday's Mid-American Conference series finale.

After dropping the first game of Friday's doubleheader to the Huskies—their first conference loss—to extend their skid to a season-long three games, the Golden Flashes (22-10, 5-1 MAC) took the final two games of the series to sit in a tie for first place after the first two weekends of league play.

"This is a game that could have gone either way, and we are glad to come out on top," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "The quality of talent in the MAC was on display today, as two very good teams battled each other, as well as tough weather conditions. Maddy [Grimm] and Shelbi [Tilton] came through with big hits, and we found a way to do what needed to be done at the right times to get a victory."

The game-winning blast was the 11th of the season for Grimm, who had a monster game at the plate. Kent State's all-time home run leader batted 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Pitching dominated the first half of the game, as the teams combined for only two hits in the first three innings. Kent State collected three singles in the top of the fourth, but could not score.

Northern Illinois started the bottom of the inning with a double and a single to place runners on the corners. Senior Michele Duffy was able to turn two on a ball hit to her on the right side, but the runner on third was able to scamper home for the first run of the day.

The Flashes responded with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth, which began with a single through the left side by senior Arika Roush. She came in to tie the game on a double by Grimm, who moved to third on the throw to the plate. A dropped pop fly by the NIU shortstop extended the inning and allowed Grimm to score. Senior Shelbi Tilton followed with an RBI double to put Kent State ahead, 3-1.

A walk in the bottom half of the inning proved to be costly, as NIU centerfielder Jenny Van Geertry tied the game with a two-run shot.

Junior Janel Hayes entered the circle for the Flashes in the sixth inning and found herself in a tough spot after allowing a single and two walks that loaded the bases. Hayes was able to field a ball hit back to her by the next batter and threw to first to end the inning.

Representing Kent State's last chance to score before having to hold the Huskies scoreless in the bottom of the inning, Grimm delivered in a big way with a roundtripper to left-center.

Hayes found herself in an eerily similar situation to Game 2 at Robert Morris on Wednesday after a single and dropped fly ball placed runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Against the Colonials, Grimm also hit a solo shot in the top of the seventh, which tied the game, and Hayes was one strike from sending the game to extra innings before allowing a walk-off three-run bomb over the left field fence. She redeemed herself Sunday by getting Kalli Kossakowski, who had reached in all four plate appearances against Hayes on Friday, to fly out to right field and end the game.

Hayes (8-8) threw two scoreless innings to earn the victory. She allowed two hits and two walks, but pitched her way out of trouble and stranded five NIU base runners. Junior Ronnie Ladines started the game for the Flashes and had five strikeouts in five innings of action. Ladines allowed three runs on six hits and walked four batters.

"We got fantastic pitching performances from both Ronnie [Ladines] and Janel [Hayes], and Erika [Warren] called a great game behind the plate.

Kent State is right back in conference action on Tuesday at Ohio. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.