Kent State University
18-13, 4-3
Ball State
23-11, 5-2
Flashes Take First Game of the Series from Ball State
4/6/2018 7:34:00 PM | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Kent State (18-14, 4-4 MAC) took the first game of the series over Ball State, 5-2, on Friday afternoon behind contributions from the entire lineup. Carlee Selle had the big blow of the game with a two-run home run in the fourth. Pitcher Madi Huck kept the Cardinals' bats off balance and pitched her way to a complete game win. The Cardinals (24-11, 6-2 MAC), who are second in the MAC West, won the second game of the doubleheader 15-7 in six innings.
"A split in Muncie is a good day. Overall the bats were on point, but there were a few more situations that we could have taken advantage of," said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "Credit to Ball State's pitching staff for getting the key outs in those situations. Madi Huck did a nice job for us allowing only two runs to a very good offense."
Game 1: Kent State 5, Ball State 2
Ball State scored first in the bottom of the second on a bases loaded hit by pitch to go up, 1-0.
Kennadie Goth reached on a one out base hit and Holly Speers walked in the third to setup Bailey Brownfield to continue to clutch hitting with a two-out RBI knock to right. Emily Dobbin then put a ball in play at short that was mishandled to give the Flashes the lead, 2-1.
In the fourth Allie Luther was plunked by a pitch and then Carlee Selle deposited her second dinger of the season to right to put the Flashes up, 4-1.
The Cardinals tacked on another in the sixth to cut the deficit in half.
Maria Cegledy came through in the top of the seventh with an RBI double to left center which brought home pinch runner Olivia Sborolini home from first.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Huck got a groundout to leave the bases loaded.
Huck (10-4) went the distance for the Golden Flashes. She scattered seven hits and only allowed two earned runs to the second-highest batting average team in the conference. She also struck out three. Aeshia Miles (13-5) got tagged with the loss, dealing 6.2 frames and allowing eight hits.
Speers was 1-for-1 with a single and three walks.
Cegledy, who had a big double, was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Game 2: Ball State 15, Kent State 7 (6 innings)
Kent State scored first on a Bailey Browfield RBI single to right and Maria Cegledy followed up with a bases loaded walk, but KSU left the bases loaded.
Ball State then went on a tear and scored 13 runs over the next three innings.
The Golden Flashes showed some fight in the fifth inning, trailing by 10, and scored four runs to extend the game. Emily Dobbin clobbered her first homer of the season to left and Kaitlyn Miller cranked a two-RBI double to right center.
Brenna Brownfield (6-6) pitched 2.2 frames and was the losing pitcher. Olivia Sborlini and Kristyn Eckl also put in work inside the circle. Ball State reliever Alyssa Rothwell (3-2) got the win out of the pen, throwing 3.2 innings.
Dobbin was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Cegledy walked three times and reached base six times on the day.
Brenna Brownfield and Kaityln Miller were each 2-for-4 with a double.
Up Next
The Flashes and Cardinals close out the series tomorrow, Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ROTHWELL, Alyssa (3-2)
L: Brownfield, Brenna (6-6)
Batting:
2B: Speers, Holly 1 ; Brownfield, Brenna 1 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 1
HR: Dobbin, Emily 1
RBI: Dobbin, Emily 2 ; Brownfield, Bailey 1 ; Cegledy, Maria 1 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 3
SH: Dobbin, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goth, Kennadie 1 ; Dobbin, Emily 2 ; Luther, Allie 1 ; Cader, Jen 1 ; Brownfield, Brenna 1 ; Miller, Kaitlyn 1
Batting:
2B: HUFFMAN, Olivia 1 ; DEMNIANIUK, Hailey 1
HR: DOMINIQUE, Haley 1 ; LABRADOR, Maddy 1 ; ROBINSON, Annie 1
RBI: DOMINIQUE, Haley 2 ; HUFFMAN, Olivia 2 ; HOGG, Janae 1 ; LABRADOR, Maddy 4 ; ROBINSON, Annie 4 ; JANIGA, Katie 2
SF: ROBINSON, Annie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DOMINIQUE, Haley 2 ; HUFFMAN, Olivia 2 ; HOGG, Janae 1 ; CASTLEBERRY, Taylor 1 ; LABRADOR, Maddy 2 ; WYNN, Kennedy 1 ; PAYTON, Stacy 2 ; ROBINSON, Annie 2 ; DEMNIANIUK, Hailey 2
