Flashes Score 23 Runs in Wins Over NC State and Georgetown
RALEIGH, N.C.- Kent State improved to 3-1 at the Wolfpack Challenge with a pair of victories Saturday at Dail Stadium. The Golden Flashes (4-5) collected a season-high 15 hits in a 15-8 win over host NC State, then needed just five innings to blank Georgetown 8-0.
After the Wolfpack scored in the first, senior Lauren Mokler (Uniontown, Ohio) and junior Lauren Grimes (Tallmadge, Ohio) each knocked two-out, RBI singles in the second to give the Flashes the lead. An infield error helped NC State tie the game in the second, before Kent State put up six runs in the third.
Back-to-back walks to lead off the third set up a three-run homer by sophomore Abbey Ledford (West Liberty, Ohio). A double by senior Mary Holt (Providence, R.I.), a walk by Mokler and a bunt single by Grimes, helped set up a bases-clearing double by sophomore Alex Marcantonio (North Canton, Ohio) to give the Flashes an 8-2 lead.
The Wolfpack responded with a solo home run in the third and four runs in the fourth. An error in the fourth helped set up a two-out, three-run homer to make it a one run game (8-7).
An RBI double by senior catcher Jess Blanton (Wheelersburg, Ohio) gave Kent State a brief two-run cushion, but the Wolfpack came back with another run in the sixth. The Flashes then put the game out of reach with six runs in the seventh. Marcantonio and Ledford each plated two more runners with triples. Both sophomores finished the game with three hits and five runs batted in. Grimes, Mokler and Blanton all had two hits.
Sophomore Lauren McNeil (Akron, Ohio) tossed the first four innings and allowed two earned runs in her third win of the season. Freshman Emma Johnson (Groveport, Ohio) pitched the final three innings for the save.
Johnson then got the start against Georgetown and tossed a five-hit shutout. She fanned five over five innings to earn her first career victory.
A home run by sophomore Caitie Kilbane (Westerville, Ohio) sparked a three-run third. Mokler, Marcantonio and freshman Kim Kirkpatrick (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) all doubled in the third.
Two innings later, the Flashes put the game away with five runs on four hits and two Hoya errors. Grimes, Kirkpatrick, Ledford and senior Shannon Laughlin (Fairview Park, Ohio) all singled in the fifth.
The Golden Flashes will close out their five-game weekend Sunday against Pittsburgh.
