Kent State University
32-27
Baylor
44-12
Seventh-Inning Rally Falls Short in Loss to No. 15 Baylor
5/19/2017 10:48:00 PM | Softball
WACO, Texas – Senior Ronnie Ladines did not allow an earned run, but Kent State was unable to score after loading the bases in the top of the seventh inning of Friday evening's 1-0 loss to No. 15 Baylor in the NCAA Waco Regional.
The Golden Flashes (32-27) placed the go-ahead run in scoring position with walks drawn by sophomore Hunter Brancifort, sophomore Bailey Brownfield and senior Ronnie Ladines. However, Baylor starting pitcher Gia Rodoni was able induce a fly ball that was caught in foul territory to complete the shut victory for the host.
"That's kind of what Ronnie has done for us all year," said head coach Eric Oakley. "I think there were some jitters in the first inning getting to know the strike zone a little bit, but she settled in and looked like herself by that second inning. It was a great outing. Whenever you have an exciting game like that, you know it can hinge on just one play."
Ladines (19-15) held a Baylor squad that had the ninth-highest batting average (.328) in the nation to just five hits and had two strikeouts to go with two walks. The senior retired eight of the final nine batters she faced in the contest.
Baylor scored the game's only run in the bottom of the fifth when Kyla Walker hit a two-out triple to the gap in right-center and was awarded home when the relay third entered the home dugout.
Kent State will play Oregon State in an elimination game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Beavers lost to James Madison, 3-2, in walk-off fashion in Friday's first game. The winner of the contest will play the loser of the day's first game between Baylor and James Madison.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rodoni (16-2)
L: Ladines, Ronnie (19-15)
Batting:
3B: Walker, Ky. 1
SH: Kettler, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker, Ky. 1
SB: Cargill 1 ; Scroggins 1
