Kent State University
4-4
Saint Mary's
4-5
Softball Lets Late Lead Slip Away in Loss to No. 22 California
2/19/2017 9:44:00 PM | Softball
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The Kent State softball team dropped a pair of games Sunday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, 4-0 to Saint Mary's and 8-7 to No. 22 California in a game that ended in the sixth inning as the result of a predetermined end time to allow the Golden Bears to travel back to Berkeley.
After collecting just two hits in being shutout by the Gaels in the first game of the day, the Golden Flashes (4-5) pounded out nine hits and took a 7-6 lead over California in the top of the sixth inning. However, a missed tag and throw that took the first baseman off the bag on a potential game-ending double play loaded the bases for the Bears, who took advantage with a walk-off two-run single in their next at-bat.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed," said head coach Eric Oakley. "We came out here with the intent to beat quality teams, not just to compete with them. We let opportunities slip away today against Cal and Friday against Oregon, and will hopefully learn from our mistakes so that we win those types of games in the future."
Freshman Kellie Abeska and senior Ronnie Ladines both went 2-for-3 to lead the Flashes. Ladines drove in a pair of runs and also drew a walk.
Game 1: Saint Mary's 4, Kent State 0
Kent State was held to two hits and had a runner on second base just once in being shutout for the second time this season.
Saint Mary's broke a scoreless tie with a double and single to start the fourth inning.
The Golden Flashes had their best scoring opportunity in the bottom half of the inning. Bailey Brownfield drew a two-out walk and Ronnie Ladines followed with a single, but the Gaels got a strikeout to end the threat.
Saint Mary's scored twice in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh.
Senior Janel Hayes (3-1) threw her second straight complete game and suffered her first loss of the season. Hayes had one strikeout and did not issue a walk, but allowed 10 hits.
Game 2: No. 22 California 8, Kent State 7 (6 innings)
Kent State jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the 22nd-ranked Golden Bears (7-1).
Bailey Brownfield and Allie Luther started the second inning with back-to-back singles. Paige McCrary reached on an error with Brownfield scoring on the play and Kellie Abeska singled to load the bases with no outs. The Golden Flashes brought in a second run on a double-play ball, but that was all they could score in the inning.
Holly Speers added a two-run home run in the third, her fifth long ball of the season.
California then scored six straight to take the lead. The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the third with a single, an error and back-to-back doubles to make it a 4-3 game. They scored three more in the fifth on four straight two-out singles.
McCrary got the Flashes' comeback started in the sixth with a single. Abeska followed with her second hit of the game and Vanessa Scoarste drew a walk to load the bases with no outs once again. Ronnie Ladines then tied the game with a single to center field that brought home McCrary and Abeska. Emily Dobbin then placed down a sac bunt to score Scoarste. The throw to first was low to allow Dobbin to reach safely, but pinch runner Sydney Anderson was retired on the play after rounding third. A walk and wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, but the Bears got a fly ball to end the inning.
After two singles to start the bottom of the sixth, the Flashes recorded the first out of the inning on a fly ball to left field. The next Cal batter hit the ball to the right side for what was a potential game-ending double play, but the base runner avoided the tag on the way to second and the throw to first pulled the Flashes' player off the base to load the bases. Khala Taylor followed with a hit through the right side that scored two runs and give the Bears the victory.
Ladines (1-2) allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings. She had two strikeouts and walked three batters.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State heads to Madeira, Florida for five games at the EMU Spring Invitational next weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Whitt (1-1)
L: Hayes, Janel (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Sparacino 2 ; Sullivan 1
RBI: Sparacino 1 ; Lotz 1 ; Campbell 1 ; Bilotta 1
SF: Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sparacino 2 ; McCoy 1 ; Bullock 1
SB: DiMercurio 1
HBP: Lotz 1
