Kent State University
13-18, 3-3
Central Michigan
19-10, 4-2
Brownfield’s Double Gives Flashes 3-2 Win at Central Michigan
4/2/2017 3:38:00 PM | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Sophomore Bailey Brownfield's double in the top of the sixth inning brought home the winning run, as Kent State defeated Central Michigan, 3-2, in the final game of a Mid-American Conference series on Sunday.
Kent State (12-18) evened its record to 3-3 in MAC play and concluded its 10-day Spring Break road trip with a 5-4 record with two of the losses coming in walk-off fashion.
Senior Ronnie Ladines (5-11) gave the Golden Flashes another terrific pitching performance, allowing just one earned run and striking out nine batters to come within one of her season-high that was set on Saturday.
"It was another great performance by Ronnie in the circle," said head coach Eric Oakley. "We got the key hit we needed today, and that was the difference. Bailey did her job when it was clear CMU wasn't going to give Maddy anything to hit. Maddy's base running was key, and she is always a threat to score from first."
Ladines led off the second inning with a home run to left field for a 1-0 lead.
Central Michigan took advantage of some defensive mistakes by the Flashes to go ahead 2-1 in the third inning. A bunt single was followed by two more singles to score the tying run and put runners on the corners. A bad throw to second on a double-steal attempt allowed another run to score.
The score remained 2-1 CMU until Brownfield's double with one out in the sixth, which scored junior Emily Dobbin and senior Maddy Grimm. Dobbin and Grimm had both walked.
That was all of the offensive support needed for Ladines, who retired the final nine batters she faced.
All three of Kent State's hits were for extra bases, as junior Allie Luther hit a triple to right field on the first pitch of the game.
Kent State will host Ohio in its home opener for a doubleheader on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ladines, Ronnie (5-11)
L: KNAPP, Rachael (11-6)
Batting:
2B: Brownfield, Bailey 1
3B: Luther, Allie 1
HR: Ladines, Ronnie 1
RBI: Brownfield, Bailey 2 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dobbin, Emily 1 ; Grimm, Maddy 1 ; Ladines, Ronnie 1
Batting:
RBI: KALINA, Maison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: TOLFREE, Lacy 1 ; CURTIS, Allison 1
SB: TOLFREE, Lacy 1 ; WATERS, Shanel 1
CS: CURTIS, Allison 1
