Golden Flashes Battle No. 9 Alabama in 5-3 Loss

Tuesday, March 28

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 p.m.

Kent State University

10-16

Alabama

31-4

Kent State

Alabama

Photo by: David Dermer

Golden Flashes Battle No. 9 Alabama in 5-3 Loss

3/28/2017 10:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior Maddy Grimm extended her reached-base streak to 10 consecutive plate appearance and was responsible for all of Kent State's runs in a 5-3 loss at No. 9 Alabama in a non-conference game Tuesday night at Rhoads Stadium.

Mari Cranek provided the winning run with a line drive over the right field wall to leadoff the bottom of the sixth inning and break a 3-3 tie.

The Golden Flashes (10-16) gave the Crimson Tide (31-4) all they could handle and fought back from an early 3-1 deficit in the second inning. With two runners in scoring position with just one out and the hosts already recording five hits, the majority of the 2,526 fans in attendance likely thought Alabama would only need to play five innings to earn the victory. Senior pitcher Ronnie Ladines had other ideas, however, and she got a big strikeout and a first-pitch fly out to left field to escape without further damage.

"I am not a fan of moral victories, but I am a fan of this Kent State Softball team and incredibly proud of how they fought tonight in this environment," said head coach Eric Oakley. "Maddy showed that she is one of the best hitters in the country, and Ronnie again showed that she can pitch with any team. We are getting on the bus tonight holding our heads up high."

Kent State struck in its first at-bat, as Grimm once again gave Kent State a first-inning lead over a Power 5 opponent. Sophomore Bailey Brownfield worked a full count walk to open the game. After junior Emily Dobbin executed a sac bunt, Grimm roped a single to right field to score pinch runner Sydney Anderson.

A throwing error that allowed Alabama's first batter to reach safely led to the Tide taking a 2-1 lead on a pair of unearned runs. The Tide extended the lead to 3-1 on three singles in the second.

Grimm launched a shot off the videoboard in left field to tie the game in the third inning following a clutch two-out single by Dobbin. The blast gave her sole possession of second on the Mid-American Conference career home runs list with 58.

Kent State had its best chance to take the lead in the fifth after Brownfield hit a bouncer to the right side that was mishandled to extend the inning. Unlike her at-bat in the third, Dobbin was unable to provide a clutch hit and her groundout to the shortstop ended the frame.

This allowed Alabama to pitch around Grimm to start the sixth. While Ladines added an infield single later in the inning, the Flashes were unable to move Grimm past second base.

Following Cranek's solo shot to start the bottom of the sixth, Ladines got a ground out and surrendered a single before being replaced by senior Janel Hayes. A wild pitch and a groundout moved the runner to third, and another single brought in the final run of the night.

Grimm had two of Kent State's four hits and has now hit 14 home runs against Power 5 schools during her career. In her last 10 plate appearances, she has been walked seven times and hit three home runs for 10 RBIs. Six of the walks have been intentional.

Ladines (4-10) had another excellent outing against one of the nation's top teams. She had five strikeouts and walked just one while allowing three earned runs on eight hits.

Kent State is right back in action Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader scheduled for 4 p.m. ET at Evansville. The Flashes will then head to Central Michigan for a weekend series to conclude their 9-game, 10-day Spring Break trip.