RedHawks Get the Better of Flashes Following Long Delay
KENT, Ohio- Miami's two home runs to Kent State's one made the difference as every run was scored on the long ball in the RedHawks' 4-1 win Saturday at the Diamond at Dix. A three-run shot by Miami's Kayla Ledbetter broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth.
"I thought it was a well-played game by both teams," Head Coach Karen Linder said. "But we've got to do a better job of keeping leadoff runners off base. And if we do let that runner on, we've got to come back and get the next batter."
The leadoff and second batters of the sixth inning each walked, before Ledbetter's homer made it 4-1. The Golden Flashes (26-23, 11-6) hit the ball hard in the sixth and continued to make contact against MAC Pitcher of the Year Jessica Simpson in the seventh, but could not get a run across.
"We hit her, we just need to hit her a little more," Linder said of Simpson.
Sophomore Alex Marcantonio (North Canton, Ohio) put Kent State on the board in the fifth with her fifth homer of the season to right center field.
Sophomore Abbey Ledford (West Liberty, Ohio) gave the Flashes a runner in scoring position with a double to right center in the second, but she ended the inning stranded at third.
"We have to do better job of winning the back-to-back situations both defensively and offensively," Linder said.
Freshman Emma Johnson (Groveport, Ohio) threw the entire game and fanned eight in the loss.
Saturday's start time was delayed by over two hours due to rain.
The Golden Flashes and Miami (31-16, 12-5) will play a rematch Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. on Kent State's Senior Day.