Kent State University
University of Akron
Softball Hosts Rival Zips to Close Out Regular Season
5/5/2016 6:14:00 PM | Softball
A clash between rivals will bring the 2016 softball regular season to an end as Kent State (33-19, 14-6 MAC) hosts Akron for the final Mid-American Conference series of the season at the Diamond at Dix. Due to weather forecasts in the area, the teams will now play a doubleheader on Friday with first pitch at 1 p.m. A single game will be played Saturday at a time to be determined and will be followed by a Senior Day celebration.
Kent State is one of only three schools have clinched spots in next week's MAC Softball Championship at Firestone Stadium in Akron, which will make for an exciting weekend across the conference.
Follow the Flashes
Fans can listen to Golden Flashes Radio, as Jacob Pavilack will have the call for all three games. Live stats will be available, and fans can also follow @KentStSoftball on Twitter for in-game updates.
Senior Day Recognition
Six Golden Flashes — Nicki Cregan, Michele Duffy, Alyssa Frankenfield, Arika Roush, Shelbi Tilton and Erika Warren — will play their final games at the Diamond at Dix this weekend and will be recognized following the series finale on Saturday.
Last Time Out
Kent State went on the road Wednesday and nearly took both games of a doubleheader from Ohio State. The Golden Flashes took care of the Buckeyes 6-3 in the opening game and let a late lead slip away in the nightcap, as the hosts won, 4-3, on a walk-off walk.
Junior Ronnie Ladines crushed a grand slam in the first inning and tossed a complete game for her 20th victory in Game 1. Kent State led 4-1 in the top of the fourth when the game entered a rain delay. After nearly an hour, the teams returned to the field. Kent State added two runs in fifth for a 6-1 lead. Ohio State put together a final rally in the bottom of the seventh, but could only score two runs despite bringing the tying run to the plate twice.
The Buckeyes put two runs on the board in the first inning of Game 2, but neither team scored again until the sixth when the Flashes got some clutch two-out hitting from a trio of seniors. Shelbi Tilton hit a dribbler through the left side to put runners on the corners, and Erika Warren followed with a double to center field to tie the game. Michele Duffy followed with a low liner to right field that was dropped to allow Warren and give the Flashes their first lead of the game.
Ohio State handed Kent State just its second loss of the season when leading after six innings by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh. A single by the leadoff batter was followed by two outs. After an intentional walk, the Buckeyes got their own timely hit on a single to right field by Alex Bayne to tie the game. Another intentional walk followed, and OSU's Emily Clark battled to a full count before eventually draw a walk to bring in the winning run.
Scouting Akron (28-21-1)
• Akron split a doubleheader last Saturday against Bowling Green and fell in the rubber match and currently sit in 3rd place in the MAC East.
• The Zips are one of the best teams in the nation at swiping bags, they rank 12th in the country with 2.24 steals per game.
• Akron posts a .274 team batting average, which is fourth in the MAC.
• 3B Alyssa Nicholas leads the Zips at the plate with a .326 batting average, tied for the team lead with 11 doubles, and is first on the team in walks (16) and stolen bases (23).
• OF Savannah Fruin is the sole power threat in the lineup with 11 home runs and a team best 25 RBIs.
• P Erin Seiler (23-16) is the Zips' ace pitcher, as she 32nd in the nation with a 1.70 earned run average, 4th in victories (24), 13th in strikeouts (211) and 5th in shutouts (5). Seiler has pitched 238.2 out of 336 innings for Akron this season.
Series History vs. Akron
• Kent State is 69-44-1 all-time vs. Akron.
• Last season, Kent State took the rubber match, 3-2 in eight innings, at the MAC Tournament after the teams split their two regular season games at the Diamond at Dix.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will begin the quest for its first NCAA appearance since 2008 with a first round Mid-American Conference Tournament game on Wednesday (May 11). The double-elimination tournament will be played at Firestone Stadium in Akron through Saturday (May 14).
