Burns leads Flashes
From Journal Staff and Wire Reports
POSTED: May 13, 2008
AKRON — Former Wellsville High School standout Gabrielle Burns pitched Kent State University into the NCAA softball tournament.
Burns tossed a two-hitter Saturday as Kent State became the first school in six years to win both the Mid-American Conference’s regular season and tournament titles with a 5-0 win over Ohio University at Firestone Stadium.
“It’s an amazing thing,” Burns said. “It’s been a long time since a team has won the regular season and the tournament. It was up in the air as to who was pitching today, depending on who we play and I’m just ecstatic right now.”
Burns is 19-5 with a 1.07 ERA in 169 2/3 innings this season. She has 216 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .153 batting average.
The Golden Flashes (44-10) will take on Notre Dame (37-20-1) Friday in its opening round game, while host Michigan (48-6), the fourth overall seed in the field of 64, will battle Wright State (33-24). The winner of the double elimination weekend will advance to the NCAA Super Regional May 23-24.
