Kent State University
Albany
Brownfield and Ladines Shine Friday in Madeira Beach
2/24/2017 6:09:00 PM | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Senior Ronnie Ladines threw 7.2 scoreless innings to start the day and sophomore Bailey Brownfield collected four hits and reached base in all six plate appearances as Kent State dropped a pair of games Friday at the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational. The Golden Flashes lost in eight innings to Army West Point, 1-0, in the tournament opener and then fell to Albany, 8-3
Despite being outhit on the day, 15-11, Kent State (4-7) had several scoring opportunities in both games. However, the Flashes were unable to come through with timely hits and left 20 runners on base.
Brownfield was the only Flash that was able to get a hit with a runner in scoring position. She went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two walks on the day and has now reached safely in all 11 games this season while getting a hit in 10 games.
Game 1: Army West Point 1, Kent State 0 (8 innings)
Ronnie Ladines (1-3 )was outstanding in the circle for Kent State, as she allowed just one unearned run due to the international tiebreaker in the eighth inning. Ladines had a season-high nine strikeouts with only one walk in the complete game effort.
After allowing a triple to the first batter of the game, Ladines worked out of the jam and did not surrender another hit until there were two outs in the seventh inning.
The international tiebreaker went into effect in the eight, placing a runner on second base. The senior got the first two batters to hit the ball high into the air and keep the runner in place, but a single by the next batter brought in the winning run.
Kent State failed to score after getting a runner to third base with just one out in the third and fifth innings. The Flashes also had a runner on third in the seventh inning.
Both teams finished the game with four hits. Vanessa Scoarste led Kent State with two singles.
Game 2: Albany 8, Kent State 3
A pair of errors by the Kent State defense aided Albany in scoring four unearned runs and jump out to 4 5-0 lead after two innings.
Maddy Grimm started the top of the third with a double, and Bailey Brownfield brought her in to score with a single to put the Flashes on the board.
Kellie Abeska hit her first collegiate home run in the fourth to get within 5-2.
Albany scored twice in the fifth and added one run in the sixth to go ahead 8-3.
Jen Cader capped the scoring with a pinch-hit homer to lead off the seventh.
Brownfield matched her career-high with three hits and also reached on a walk.
Janel Hayes (3-2) allowed three unearned runs in 0.2 innings. Madi Huck tossed the final 5.1 innings for the Flashes, allowing five runs (four earned) and striking out one.
On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will look to get back on track on Saturday against Columbia at 1:30 p.m. before getting a short break and returning to action against Stony Brook at 6:30 p.m.
