2006 NCAA Softball Regional -- Game 4 Recap
5/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Kent State 8, Youngstown State 0 (5 innings)
Game 4 -- Saturday, May 20 -- 2:30 p.m.
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Softball Championship Regional 9 (Game 4)
Score: Kent State 8, Youngstown State 0 (5 innings)
Records: Kent State (33-23), Youngstown State (22-27)
Next KSU Game: Saturday, May 20 -- vs. Oklahoma, 5 p.m.
Next YSU Game: Youngstown State eliminated with 0-2 record
Pair of Three-Run Homers Help Kent State Stay Alive
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3 seed Kent State Golden Flashes advanced to the Region 9 losers bracket final, defeating the fourth-seeded Youngstown Penguins 8-0 in five innings on Saturday (May 20). Centerfielder Kim Hamilton and first baseman Jamie Fitzpatrick each knocked three-run homers over the fence, while pitcher Brittney Robinson struck out five batters en route to the shutout.
Kent State broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the second inning on a successful double-steal attempt. Youngstown State's Karlie Burnell walked Corey Houk to put runners on the corners. Houk raced to second base, but when catcher Kristen McDonnell tried to pick her off Robinson stole home to give the Golden Flashes the 1-0 lead. Robinson singled with one out and advanced to second on an Ashley Fairhurst sacrifice bunt. Megan Verde looped a single to leftfield that pushed Robinson to third base, but Dani Monson, pinch-running for Verde, was caught stealing.
Designated player McKenzie Bedra earned a walk, and following a wild pitch that advanced the runner to third base, the Penguins threatened to even the score in the bottom of the inning. Lacy Bronson drew a walk to put a pair of runners on base, but Bethany Hafley struck out and Lacey Hess grounded out to Ashley Ball at second base to end the threat.
Kent State extended its lead to 7-0 due to a six-run offensive explosion in the top of the fourth inning. After the first two Golden Flash batters were retired, Verde and Houk drew back-to-back walks, bringing Hamilton to the plate with two on and two out. Hamilton laced a three-run shot over the right-centerfield fence for her 11th home run of the season. Jessica Toochek followed with a single to rightfield. Whitney Lebowitz added a single of her own, lacing a shot through the right side of the Youngstown State defense that advanced Toochek to third. Fitzpatrick took a Burnell pitch deep over the centerfielder's head for a school-record 12 homers on the season, knocking in three runs.
In the fifth Robinson lined a shot into dead centerfield that caromed off the fence, giving the pitcher a stand-up triple. Fairhurst's sacrifice fly to leftfield brought Robinson home for the 8-0 lead.
The game was called after five innings due to the run rule. Kent State will face Oklahoma in the losers bracket final at 5 p.m. Saturday. The winner of the game will face Michigan in the championship game Sunday (May 21) at 1 p.m. and will need to beat Michigan twice to win the regional title.
Q U O T E S
Youngstown State Head Coach Christy Cameron
On Youngstown State's season ... "One thing I look back on and am very proud is that there were things that happened this year that no one can take away from this group of kids. They battled, they were very receptive, they were a very fun group of kids to work with and they're going to have some great memories that they'll never forget. I know this isn't the way they wanted things to end, but they have a lot to look back on and be proud of. This is the first time the program's gotten to this point and they have a lot to be proud of."
On the team's NCAA Regional performance against Kent State ... "We had some opportunities early but we were a little bit flat coming out today. It's been a long week and a half and we just didn't do what we needed to do. Those early opportunities were key but we just didn't convert. Kent State used that, took their momentum, and just jumped on it."
On having a young but experienced team for the upcoming season ... "It's a good thing with a young team and the fact that they've been here and that they know how hard it is to get to this level. It's good that they got a taste of this, and I told them to share this with the new kids coming in. We're going to miss the two that are graduating, but we have a good group of young kids."
YSU Senior Shortstop Tiffany Patteson
On the last ballgame of her collegiate softball career ... "This isn't the way you want to go out, but even getting here and being able to play is unbelievable. But right now, my heart feels like it's been ripped out because you spend 15 years of your life playing softball, it's all you know and it's gone now. I am very proud of every single person on this team and it's the best way to go out. I knew that was my last at-bat and I wanted to make it a good one. I would have rather went zero for three and gotten the win but getting hits is just a bonus. Ultimately, this season ended on a high note but it just doesn't feel like it right now. After the game was over, I thanked my teammates, I told them I was proud of them, and I said that they'd have the same feeling I have someday, too."
On her career at Youngstown State ... "When I first came to Youngstown, we basically turned the program around. My first year, we broke so many records, we did this, we did that, but we didn't get an NCAA tournament win. It didn't happen when I was a freshman and if it had to happen one year, I am glad it was this year. Some of my memories will be battling against teams, coming back to win ballgames against teams, and watching my teammates' success throughout the years. The off-the-field memories, the bus trips, you name it, from freshman year all the way up."
