Multiple home runs give Kent split victory over Ohio University

Kent+State+senior+infielder+Maddy+Grimm+jogs+into+home+base+after+hitting+a+home-run+against+Ohio+University+Tuesday+April+4%2C+2017.+The+Flashes+would+go+on+to+win+their+7-1.

Kent State senior infielder Maddy Grimm jogs into home base after hitting a home-run against Ohio University Tuesday April 4, 2017. The Flashes would go on to win their 7-1.

Samantha Ross

Kent State softball team (14-19, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) made adjustments to defeat Ohio University (25-8, 6-2 MAC) in the second game of its doubleheader Tuesday.

“I think when you have a doubleheader you have to look at the whole game,” coach Eric Oakley said. “I think that we made good adjustments for the second game. I feel like they settled in a little better. Each player may have made a different adjustment, but they were tracking the ball much better. I think part of it was our mental approach to it, and I think they were just a little more relaxed.”

The Flashes lost the first game to Ohio University 6-0 but came back to win the second game 7-1.

“The first game we definitely came out a little bit flat,” senior infielder Maddy Grimm said. “You could tell from being in the dugout that we were a little bit off. When you come out with that kind of energy it’s hard to fix right away. Going into the second game, it was nice to have a fresh start, and I think we proved that we brought way better energy. I think we did a good job all around changing what we needed to from the first game.”

The first inning of the second game started off with a home run by Grimm to right field to give the Flashes a 2-0 lead over the Bobcats.

The Flashes hit back-to-back home runs to start the third inning by junior outfielder Emily Dobbin and Grimm.

Senior pitcher Ronnie Ladines hit a home run to center field, and sophomore outfielder Jen Cader followed by hitting a home run to right field in the fifth inning.

“Coming out we knew it was a tough competition,” Ladines said. “The first game got the best of us, but I think that we bounced back very strongly in the second game.”

The Flashes take on Northern Illinois University at Diamond at Dix this Friday at 3 p.m.

Samantha ross is a sports reporter, contact her at [email protected].