Long Ball Aids Flashes in Friday Split Against Eagles

Friday, April 8

Kent, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Kent State University

23-13, 6-4

Eastern Michigan University

14-22, 4-6

Eastern Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Long Ball Aids Flashes in Friday Split Against Eagles

4/8/2016 7:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

KENT, Ohio – After failing to come through with timely hits in the opening game of Friday's doubleheader at the Diamond at Dix, Kent State hit two home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of the nightcap to earn a split with Eastern Michigan. The Golden Flashes lost the first game, 6-0, and then took the second game, 3-1.

Freshman Hunter Brancifort and junior Brooke Dodson provided all of the scoring with a solo and two-run shot, respectively, in the fifth inning of the second game. Junior Janel Hayes earned the complete game victory to improve to 4-1 in Mid-American Conference games.

"It was a slow start for our bats and we left a lot of runners stranded," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "Once they picked up, we were able to get at least one win on the day. Janel pitched great, but we have to continue to get key hits."

Kent State (23-13, 6-4 MAC) outhit Eastern Michigan, 10-9, but went just 3-for-24 with runners aboard. As a result, the Flashes left 18 runners on base over the two games.

The top of the lineup did a good job of setting the table for the Flashes, as the first four spots in the batting order combined to reach base safely 12 times. Senior Arika Roush led the offense with three hits and also drew a walk. Junior Maddy Grimm did not have a hit, but drew three walks. Sophomore Holly Speers was also on base three times with a single and two walks. Senior Michele Duffy and Brancifort each collected two hits.

Game 1: Eastern Michigan 6, Kent State 0
Kent State drew more walks (5) than it collected hits (4) and left 10 runners on base in just their third shutout loss of the season.

Eastern Michigan got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. A hard-hit single back to the pitcher and sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position, and a single to center field made it a 1-0 game.

The Eagles collected just three hits in the fifth, but a grand slam off the bat of Amanda Akles capped a five-run frame to break it open. A walk, single and hit batter loaded the bases. Another single scored a run and a fielder's choice that cut down a run at the plate had the Flashes within an out of ending the inning. Akles then sent a shot over the wall in left field to keep momentum with EMU.

Kent State stranded runners in each of the first six innings, including a pair of runners in four frames. Arika Roush had two hits and reached third base twice in the game, but was unable to come home.

Ronnie Ladines (13-4) pitched well over the first four innings, but finished with a line of six runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. Ladines recorded four strikeouts, while hitting two batters and walking one. Emily Dobbin was terrific in relief and did not allow a hit in 2.1 innings.

Game 2: Kent State 3, Eastern Michigan 1
Three home runs accounted for all of the scoring, as Kent State evened the series at one game apiece.

Hunter Brancifort sent a shot over the left field fence for her first career home run to start the bottom of the fifth and get the Golden Flashes on the board after being held scoreless for the first 11 innings of the day.

Michele Duffy followed with a sharp single past the diving first baseman and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Arika Roush. Interim head coach Eric Oakley decided to send Brooke Dodson to the plate as a pinch hitter, which was a decision that paid dividends, as Dodson crushed a two-run homer to center field for a 3-1 lead.

Janel Hayes (9-9) was outstanding in the circle and retired the final seven batters EMU sent to the plate. Hayes had four strikeouts and no walks while allowing just four hits. A solo home run by Michelle Kriegshauser in the second inning is all that stood between Hayes and her second shutout in conference play.

On Deck for the Flashes
The series rubber match between Kent State and Eastern Michigan originally scheduled for Saturday has been postponed to Sunday at an undetermined time.