Back-to-Back: Kent State Repeats as MAC Softball Champions

Saturday, May 7

Kent, Ohio

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

35-20, 16-7

University of Akron

29-23-1, 11-10-1

Akron

Kent State

Photo by: Andy Drabic

Back-to-Back: Kent State Repeats as MAC Softball Champions

5/7/2016 5:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

KENT, Ohio – Senior Michele Duffy sent the first pitch she saw with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to the gap in right-center to score two runs and give Kent State its first lead of the game. The Golden Flashes shutout rival Akron over the next two innings to win the series rubber match, 6-3, and capture their second straight Mid-American Conference regular season championship.

It was the perfect Senior Day script, as a trio of seniors combined for the key two-out sequence of plate appearances that gave the Golden Flashes (35-20, 16-7 MAC) their third East Division crown in the past four years. Tied at 3-3, Erika Warren sent a shot that hit near the top of the wall in left field, just missing a home run, for a two-out double. Nicki Cregan then drew the Flashes' only non-intentional walk of the day. Duffy followed with the decisive hit.

"The seniors have been leading us all year," said interim head coach Eric Oakley. "There have been so many times they have come through. They seem to always step up and get things done. They want this a lot this year, and they're putting their money where their mouth is."

Five of Kent State's eight hits went for extra bases. After only getting one hit and two baserunners against Akron starting pitcher Erin Seiler on Friday, the Flashes scored five runs and collected seven hits off Seiler prior her being removed to start the sixth inning. Senior Shelbi Tilton and sophomore Emily Dobbin led the offense with two hits each.

Akron scored two runs in the opening frame, but the Flashes showed the fight of a champion and tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. The speedy Dobbin got an infield single and then beat out plays at second and third base as Kent State loaded the bases on back-to-back fielder's choices. Tilton sent a low liner back up the middle to bring home Dobbin and junior Maddy Grimm.

A solo shot by Akron in the top of the third was answered with Grimm's 17th home run of the season. Grimm set a Kent State single-season record by scoring her 47th and 48th runs of the season on Saturday.

The game remained tied until Duffy's clutch hit in the fifth.

"I was just telling myself to have a good at-bat and to see the ball," Duffy said. "Coming through with a big hit means a lot. And it's especially special because it's on Senior Day."

Dobbin added an insurance run with her first career homer to lead off the sixth.

For the second straight game, junior Ronnie Ladines (22-8) earned the victory out of the bullpen. Ladines pitched 6.1 innings and struck out four batters. She allowed five hits and saw her streak of 33.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to a conference opponent come to an end in the third inning. Senior Alyssa Frankenfield, who has rehabbed relentlessly to be able to pitch this season, got the start for Senior Day. Frankenfield allowed two runs and three hits.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will try to add its third Mid-American Conference Tournament championship to the trophy case next week. The top-seeded Golden Flashes will open with a first round matchup against 8th-seeded Central Michigan on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron.