Flashes Run-Rule Falcons in Saturday's Opener, Game 2 Suspended Until Sunday

Saturday, April 30

Bowling Green, Ohio

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

31-18, 13-6

Bowling Green

18-32, 6-13

Kent State

Bowling Green

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Run-Rule Falcons in Saturday's Opener, Game 2 Suspended Until Sunday

4/30/2016 4:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Kent State defeated host Bowling Green, 8-0, in five inning in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader on Saturday, but a rainstorm prevented the series finale from being completed. Game 2 was postponed after the Golden Flashes batted in the top of the fourth inning with the score tied 1-1.

"We got another strong pitching outing from Ronnie [Ladines] along with timely hits that put us in a good spot today to get the first win," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "Nicki [Cregan] provided a nice spark filling in at the designated player position and Brooke [Dodson] did a great job coming in off the bench. Maddy [Grimm] continues to be an exciting hitter."

Ronnie Ladines (18-7) shutout the Falcons for the second time in as many days and blanked her third consecutive Mid-American Conference opponent. Ladines recorded five strikeouts and allowed just four hits and one walk.

Kent State (31-18, 13-6 MAC) provided Ladines with early run support, scoring five runs on five hits in the top of the second inning. Three straight singles, the last coming off the bat of senior Michele Duffy, gave the Flashes a 1-0 lead. A BG error then loaded the bases, and sophomore Emily Dobbin brought in a run with a fielder's choice where Duffy was retired at third. Junior Maddy Grimm launched a blast to straightaway center field for a clutch three-run homer to break the game open and give Kent State a 5-0 lead.

Freshman Bailey Brownfield drew a walk to start the third inning and was replaced on the bases by fellow freshman Sydney Anderson. A sacrifice bunt moved Anderson to second and she scored on a throwing error after junior Brooke Dodson singled to left field.

The Flashes added two more runs in the fourth. Senior Nicki Cregan hit a two-out single to score Grimm and Dodson continued the timely hitting with a double down the left field line to score another run.

Kent State collected 11 hits for the second straight day. Grimm, Cregan and Dodson were all 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the way. Grimm also drew two walks and reached safely in all four of her plate appearances.

The second game was postponed in the middle of the fourth inning with the score tied 1-1. Emily Dobbin put the Golden Flashes on the board with a two-out double in the top of the third inning, and Bowling Green tied the game in the bottom half of the inning.

Kent State will look for its second straight MAC series sweep when play is resumed on Sunday at a time that is yet to be determined.