Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, May 12
Akron, Ohio
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
2
vs
5
Kent State
Jenna Ignowski
Softball's Epic Season Ends with 5-2 Loss to Kent State
5/12/2011 2:08:13 PM | Softball
The Eagles finish the 2011 campaign at 26-18 after falling to the No. 8 seeded Golden Flashes this afternoon
Box Score.
Re-Listen to the Game.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team's epic season has finally come to an end as the Eagles drop a 5-2 decision to Kent State this afternoon, May 12, at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament at Firestone Stadium.
The Eagles left 10 runners on base which attributed to the setback and connected on just six hits, while the Golden Flashes registered 10 in the contest, five of which came in their seventh inning game winning rally.
EMU was first to strike in the ballgame, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) blasted a solo shot well beyond the center field fence to give her team a one run lead.
In the second, the Eagles had runners at first and second with Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) due up at the plate. Scherer reached safely after an interference call was issued against pinch runner, Shaina Peters (East Jordan, Mich.-East Jordan). A wild pitch moved Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) and Scherer to second and third for Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport). The sophomore came through with the first of her two hits on the afternoon with a two out single to left field to increase the Eagles' lead to two.
From there, both teams battled at the dish as they struggled to plate runs in late innings.
Kent State made some noise in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Golden Flashes, but starter Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) got KSU's Mary Holt to fly out to center field to end the threat.
Consecutive singles from Scherer and Blaharski gave the Eagles a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth, but Kent State pitcher Danielle Abernathy successfully retired Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) to move the contest into the seventh inning.
Jamie Melchert (Scottville, Mich.-Mason County Central) checked into the pitcher's circle in hopes of recording the save for the Green and White but five straight pitches that missed the plate forced the EMU staff to send in freshman Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell).
Unfortunately for Wells, the Golden Flashes' offense came alive and drove in two runs to tie it up in the top of the seventh. Ignowski would return to the mound in hopes of salvaging her win, but another KSU single and an EMU error led to three more runs to give Kent State a 5-2 lead.
With their season on the line, the Green and White needed three runs to force the game into extra innings. Skodinski led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second base on a free pass to Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles), but a ground ball out would do it as the Golden Flashes put together a come-from-behind victory to end the Eagles' season here at Firestone Stadium.
Wells is dealt the loss and finishes the season at 9-6. Ignowski supplied six and two-thirds solid innings of work, striking out six without giving up an earned run.
The Eagles finish their 2011 campaign with a 26-18 mark with the program's second-best winning percentage in program history (.591), second only to the 1988 campaign where the Eagles went 36-21 (.631) under then Head Coach Connie Minor.
EMU also tallied a record five All-MAC honorees with Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), Richards, and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) taking first team accolades, while Skodinski and Wells took first team honors. Wells was also named to the All-Freshman squad.
Today's loss also marks the end of four EMU softball careers with Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory), Delapaz, Melchert, and Skodinski playing in their final game today donning the Green and White in their first career appearance in the MAC Tournament.
Re-Listen to the Game.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team's epic season has finally come to an end as the Eagles drop a 5-2 decision to Kent State this afternoon, May 12, at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament at Firestone Stadium.
The Eagles left 10 runners on base which attributed to the setback and connected on just six hits, while the Golden Flashes registered 10 in the contest, five of which came in their seventh inning game winning rally.
EMU was first to strike in the ballgame, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) blasted a solo shot well beyond the center field fence to give her team a one run lead.
In the second, the Eagles had runners at first and second with Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) due up at the plate. Scherer reached safely after an interference call was issued against pinch runner, Shaina Peters (East Jordan, Mich.-East Jordan). A wild pitch moved Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) and Scherer to second and third for Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport). The sophomore came through with the first of her two hits on the afternoon with a two out single to left field to increase the Eagles' lead to two.
From there, both teams battled at the dish as they struggled to plate runs in late innings.
Kent State made some noise in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Golden Flashes, but starter Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) got KSU's Mary Holt to fly out to center field to end the threat.
Consecutive singles from Scherer and Blaharski gave the Eagles a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth, but Kent State pitcher Danielle Abernathy successfully retired Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) to move the contest into the seventh inning.
Jamie Melchert (Scottville, Mich.-Mason County Central) checked into the pitcher's circle in hopes of recording the save for the Green and White but five straight pitches that missed the plate forced the EMU staff to send in freshman Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell).
Unfortunately for Wells, the Golden Flashes' offense came alive and drove in two runs to tie it up in the top of the seventh. Ignowski would return to the mound in hopes of salvaging her win, but another KSU single and an EMU error led to three more runs to give Kent State a 5-2 lead.
With their season on the line, the Green and White needed three runs to force the game into extra innings. Skodinski led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second base on a free pass to Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles), but a ground ball out would do it as the Golden Flashes put together a come-from-behind victory to end the Eagles' season here at Firestone Stadium.
Wells is dealt the loss and finishes the season at 9-6. Ignowski supplied six and two-thirds solid innings of work, striking out six without giving up an earned run.
The Eagles finish their 2011 campaign with a 26-18 mark with the program's second-best winning percentage in program history (.591), second only to the 1988 campaign where the Eagles went 36-21 (.631) under then Head Coach Connie Minor.
EMU also tallied a record five All-MAC honorees with Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), Richards, and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) taking first team accolades, while Skodinski and Wells took first team honors. Wells was also named to the All-Freshman squad.
Today's loss also marks the end of four EMU softball careers with Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory), Delapaz, Melchert, and Skodinski playing in their final game today donning the Green and White in their first career appearance in the MAC Tournament.
Thank You, Team 38
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