Flashes Sweep Evansville in Mid-Week Doubleheader

Wednesday, March 29

Evansville, Ind.

4:30 p.m.

Kent State University

11-16

Evansville

12-15

Kent State

Evansville

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes Sweep Evansville in Mid-Week Doubleheader

3/29/2017 10:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Game 2

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Excellent pitching and offensive contributions throughout the lineup allowed Kent State to beat Evansville in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Cooper Stadium. The Golden Flashes took the opening game, 9-1 in six innings, and earned an 8-2 victory in the second game.

"It was great to see our energy carry over from last night's effort at Alabama," said head coach Eric Oakley. "I am proud of this team for not having a letdown after playing in such an intense atmosphere last night and then having to sit on a bus for a combined six hours overnight and this morning. Evansville is a top 100 RPI team, so this is a good sweep."

Kent State (12-16) had five players record a multi-hit game. Sophomore Bailey Brownfield led the way with four hits and scored three runs. Senior Maddy Grimm went 3-for-6 with a double, two home runs and three RBIs. Grimm was intentionally walked twice and scored four runs. Junior Allie Luther had her first career double, home run and multi-hit game in the nightcap.

"It was great to see Bailey return to swinging the bat the way she did the first month of the season," said Oakley. "She provided great protection for Maddy tonight, and it will important for her to continue doing that."

In the circle, seniors Janel Hayes and Ronnie Ladines and freshman Madi Huck combined to hold the Purple Aces to just three runs and a .236 batting average. Huck earned her first career victory by throwing 4.1 scoreless innings and matching her career-high with three strikeouts.

"As a team, we had two solid pitching and hitting performances tonight," said Oakley. "Several players had 'firsts', which is always fun. Allie hit her first home run, Kristyn [Eckl] had her first RBI and Madi got her first win."

Game 1: Kent State 9, Evansville 1 (6 innings)
Kent State matched its season-high with 10 hits and took care of Evansville in the opening game in six innings, 9-1.

The Flashes took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Three walks and a wild pitch allowed Nicole Teefy to score the first run of the game. Jen Cader smacked a double to bring in two more runs and Kellie Abeska followed with a single to end the night for Evansville starting pitcher Emily Lockhart. Abeska stole second and a bad throw to the base allowed Cader to score.

The Purple Aces to one run back in the bottom half of the inning on a leadoff triple and two-out single.

Kent State countered with a run in the third. Maddy Grimm started the frame with a double and moved to third on a single by Bailey Brownfield before scoring on an infield single by Ronnie Ladines.

Grimm homered to lead off the fifth and make it 6-1. Brownfield and Ladines singled and Janel Hayes was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Cader followed with a single to score Brownfield.

The Flashes tacked on two more runs in the sixth to end the contest an inning early. Emily Dobbin drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a double by Brownfield. Dobbin scored on a sac fly by Ladines. Later in the inning, an error allowed Brownfield to cross the plate for the final run.

Brownfield batted 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice. Grimm went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. Cader and Ladines each went 2-for-3. Cader had three RBIs and Ladines drove in a pair of runs.

Janel Hayes (7-3) threw a complete game and had two strikeouts while allowing one run in six innings.

Game 2: Kent State 8, Evansville 2
Kent State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in its first at-bat and won 8-2 after coming within an out of ending the game in six innings.

The Flashes scored before recording their first hit of the game, as three walks loaded the bases and Allie Luther was credited with a RBI after being hit by a pitch to make it 1-0. Kristyn Eckl brought in two runs with a single and Brooke Dodson added a RBI sac fly.

Maddy Grimm and Luther added two-run homers in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively.

After back-to-back singles by Evansville to start the bottom of the sixth, Janel Hayes got the next two batters to wave at third strikes. However, Bailee Bostic brought in both runners with a double to send the game to the seventh.

Luther led the Flashes with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a double, a home run and three RBIs. Grimm went 1-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBIs and two intentional walks.

Madi Huck (1-3) tossed 4.1 innings to earn the victory and totaled three strikeouts. Hayes allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Ronnie Ladines had two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh inning.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State concludes its spring break trip with the second weekend of Mid-American Conference play at Central Michigan this weekend (March 31-April 1).