Softball dominates weekday games, pushes win streak to five games

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Senior outfielder Kim Kirkpatrick swings at a pitch during game 1 of Kent State’s double header against Cleveland State at the Diamond at Dix on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Kirkpatrick homered to center field, scoring two runs of Kent’s 10-5 game 1 win.

Zac Sommer
April 15, 2015

The Kent State softball team (28-9, 7-2 Mid-American Conference) increased its win streak to five after a doubleheader sweep of Cleveland State on Tuesday.

Game 1: Kent State 10, Cleveland State 5

Sophomore pitcher Ronnie Ladines (9-4) would earn the first win of the day as the Flashes scored 10 runs to defeat the Vikings 10-5.

“It was kind of like a slugfest,” coach Karen Linder said. “We anticipated that because Cleveland State has a lot of home runs.”

Senior Kim Kirkpatrick started the scoring early with a solo home run to centerfield in the first inning. Then, sophomore Maddy Grimm hit a home run this season, helping the Flashes reach a 3-1 lead heading into the second inning.

Grimm then hit a double up the middle, bringing in two more runs before junior Michele Duffy homered to left field to build a 7-3 lead in the third inning.

Kent State increased the lead to nine after Grimm hit another home run, her 14th of the season, passing her own single-season home run record.

Ladines allowed another Viking home run in the fifth that would make the score 9-5, but Kent State junior Lauren Kesterson would hit the final home run in the sixth inning to secure the win.

“I’m happy that we have been making good solid contact,” Linder said. “We have been seeing the ball well and hitting the ball well.”

Game 2: Kent State 3, Cleveland State 1

The scoring calmed down until third inning of the second game, where Kent State allowed Cleveland State’s only run.

“It was more of a defensive and timely-hitting type of game,” Linder said of the second contest.

The Vikings held the Flashes scoreless until the fourth inning, when Grimm would hit a double down the infield line scoring senior Dani Ramos.

Freshman Holly Speers singled to left field during the next at-bat, bringing home Grimm and giving the Flashes a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth.

Kent State scored the final run of the game off of a sacrifice RBI to right field, scoring an unearned run and giving the Flashes a 3-1 victory.

The Flashes will head to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, for a doubleheader against Central Michigan (17-16, 5-3 MAC) with the first pitch starting at 1 p.m.

Contact Zac Sommer at [email protected].