Kent State University
0-1
Dayton
2-0
Softball Splits Pair to Open Season at Mercer Invite
2/10/2017 10:48:00 PM | Softball
Game 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Game 2
MACON, Ga. – The Kent State softball team lost its first season opener since 2010 in heartbreaking fashion but returned to the field 30 minutes later for a run-rule victory Friday on the first day of play at the Mercer Invitational. The Golden Flashes started the day with a 3-2 loss in eight innings to Dayton and then pounded host Mercer, 9-1, in five innings.
"After a little bit of a sluggish start at the plate in game one, I am very happy with the adjustments that the team made at the plate in game two," said head coach Eric Oakley. "There is a lot of softball left, and still some things to figure out, but we'll take the split and work to build from here."
Kent State scored in the opening frame of both games. Against Dayton, sophomore Bailey Brownfield started the game with a single and came around to score on a single by senior Maddy Grimm. Junior Holly Speers then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs, but the Flashes were unable to add to their lead.
The Flashes loaded the bases without any outs again in the second inning, but a sac fly by Emily Dobbin that brought home freshman Vanessa Vodan was the only run they could produce.
Dayton hit a solo home run in each of the first two innings, but neither team was able to score over the next five innings, as both pitching staffs were able to work out of multiple jams. Kent State finished the game with 12 left on base and the Flyers stranded seven runners.
The international tiebreaker took effect to start extra innings, and Dayton was able to take advantage of its baserunner being placed on second base and scored on a walk-off single to left field.
Senior Ronnie Ladines started in the circle and had four strikeouts in six innings. Freshman Madi Huck (0-1) earned the decision for the Flashes as she tossed a perfect seventh inning before allowing an unearned run in the eighth.
Sophomore Sydney Anderson bunted her way aboard to start the second game of the day and came around to score on a two-out single by Brownfield.
In the second, Dobbin brought in a pair of runs on a double with the bases loaded. Grimm then grounded out to the right side to bring home Anderson and make it a 4-0 game.
The Flashes doubled their lead with four runs in the fourth inning. Two singles and an error brought in the first run and then Speers blasted her first long ball of the year to go ahead 8-0.
 After Mercer got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, Kent State answered with a run in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Hunter Brancifort hit a leadoff double and scored on a two-out hit by Dobbin, who went 3-for-3 in the game with three RBIs.
Senior Brooke Dodson threw out a runner attempting to steal second and Ladines caught a ball hit back to her in the circle and doubled up the baserunner at first to record the final outs of the game in the fifth.
Senior Janel Hayes (1-0) threw four innings with two strikeouts to earn the victory. Ladines pitched the final inning for the Flashes.
On Deck for the Flashes
First pitch for Kent State's first game of the on Saturday is 11:45 a.m. against Portland State. The Flashes will then play Murray State at 6:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WEAVER (1-0)
L: Huck, Madi (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Dobbin, Emily 1 ; Grimm, Maddy 1
SF: Dobbin, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brownfield, Bailey 1 ; Vodan, Vanessa 1
HBP: Brancifort, Hunter 1
Batting:
HR: SNYDER 1 ; DAVIDSON 1
RBI: SNYDER 1 ; TASSI 1 ; DAVIDSON 1
SH: BUDICIN 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SNYDER 1 ; HABERSTICH 1 ; DAVIDSON 1
SB: SNYDER 1 ; HABERSTICH 1
