Kent State University
12-17, 0
Central Michigan
18-9, 0
Bats Quiet in Doubleheader Loss to Chippewas
4/2/2017 12:08:00 PM | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Kent State managed just two runs on nine hits Saturday, as host Central Michigan took both games of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader. The Golden Flashes lost the first game, 1-0 in 11 innings, and then suffered a 9-2 setback in the second game.
Kent State (12-18, 2-3 MAC) began the day with its fourth loss of the season when senior Ronnie Ladines allowed one or fewer earned runs in a complete game effort. It is the eighth time the Flashes have been shutout this season.
Junior Emily Dobbin scored both of Kent State's runs and had a team-high three base hits. Sophomores Bailey Brownfield and Jen Cader added two hits each.
Game 1: Central Michigan 1, Kent State 0 (11 innings)
Kent State fell to 0-4 in extra-inning games this season with a 1-0 loss in 11 innings. Allison Curtis tripled to start the bottom of the 11th and Maison Kalina followed with a single for the walk-off victory.
The game was a pitcher's duel between All-MAC starters Ronnie Ladines and Rachael Knapp. Ladines (4-11) set a new career-high with 10 innings pitched and recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts while walking just one walk of the 39 batters she faced. She held the Chippewas to just six hits.
The Golden Flashes outhit CMU, 7-6, and had several opportunities to score but left 11 runners on base. They left multiple runners on base in three innings and had a runner on third base in the sixth inning.
Bailey Brownfield, Jen Cader and Emily Dobbin had two hits apiece for Kent State. Cader had the team's lone extra-base hit, a double in the second.
Game 2: Central Michigan 9, Kent State 2
Kent State had just two hits in a 9-2 loss in the nightcap.
The Golden Flashes scored in their first at-bat, but CMU put three runs on the board in its first trip to the plate to lead 3-1 after one inning. Kent State was held without another hit until the sixth, as the Chippewas built the lead to 8-1.
Kent State's shaky defense continued in the first inning, as an error allowed the first batter to reach safely and a wild pitch on a stolen base attempt put her on third. A sac fly by the Eagles' second batter gave them an early 1-0 lead.
An error allowed Emily Dobbin to reach third base and a two-out single by Ronnie Ladines gave the Flashes an earlier 1-0 lead.
A walk, three hits and an error led to Central Michigan taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Chippewas added two more runs on a double and three singles in the third.
Two singles and two errors allowed the host to score two more runs in the fourth.
Dobbin collected the Flashes' second hit of the game with a single up the middle in the sixth. An error by the first baseman on a throw to second allowed Dobbin to move into scoring position, and another error brought her home to score.
Central Michigan added a final run in the bottom of the sixth.
Janel Hayes (7-4) had two strikeouts and allowed five runs (four earned) in three innings. Madi Huck threw the final three innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits.
On Deck for the Flashes
The series finale between Kent State and Central Michigan is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KNAPP, Rachael (11-5)
L: Ladines, Ronnie (4-11)
Batting:
2B: Cader, Jen 1
SH: Ladines, Ronnie 1
Batting:
3B: CURTIS, Allison 1
RBI: KALINA, Maison 1
SH: UNDERWOOD, Erika 1 ; MARLINK, Danielle 2
Base Running:
RUNS: CURTIS, Allison 1
