The Flashes went 0-5 over the weekend at the South Florida Showdown, which took place Friday through Sunday.
“Three out of the five opponents were powerful opponents, with two high-level mid majors. So, I feel like we went in and we competed,” coach Jessica O’Donnell said.
KSU traveled to Tampa, Fla., to play five tough opponents: Louisville, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Florida and Troy.
After the losses, the Flashes are 3-11 overall this season.
“I feel like we’re right where we want to be at this time of the year, the season is still very young,” O’Donnell said.
For its first game on Friday, KSU played a short game of five innings against Louisville in a 13-3 loss.
“I was very happy with our offensive production,” O’Donnell said. “We out-hit Louisville, which was huge. We’re putting up seven to eight hits a game, which, in normal cases, is a game that you feel like you’re putting yourself in a good position to win.”
Junior Brynn Libler had three hits and three runs scored.
“Every time she comes to the plate, she’s going to give us an opportunity to get a hit or score a run, and so I was really pleased with her performance this weekend,” O’Donnell said. “I’ve been really pleased with her third base, and her aggressiveness out there. Her energy is very passionate, and you need that.”
Junior Kam Utendorf had four hits, and reached base in all five trips to the plate.
“I was pleased with Utendorf this weekend,” O’Donnell said. “She was struggling at the beginning of the year, but I think it came together for her this weekend. Her hard work is starting to pay off.”
The Flashes lost 8-3 in their second game of the day on Friday against Michigan.
“I think that our pitching staff is a little young, and they’re all brand new, so they’re still trying to figure it out, learn and manage,” O’Donnell said.
Kent State rotated through four pitchers during their game against Michigan.
“The pitching needs to continue to learn, grow and get their reps in,” O’Donnell said.
KSU lost 8-0 in their first game Saturday against Wisconsin.
“I think a big thing that we have to do is eliminate walks,” O’Donnell said. “Nine times out of 10, a walk is going to equal a run. So, if we can eliminate the walks in the hit by pitches, I do believe it’s going to keep us in games.”
They followed that game with an 8-3 loss against South Florida.
KSU quickly got on the scoreboard, but USF scored six runs in the fifth inning, which won it the game.
On Sunday, The Flashes played a close 6-4 game against Troy but lost.
Up Next
The Flashes will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., over the weekend to compete in the Mizuno Showdown.
“We just have to continue to be learning and growing with every pitch, every play, every inning and every game. I feel like we’re still very much in this,” O’Donnell said.
The games will go from Friday until Sunday, and the Flashes will play Harvard twice, Saint Joseph’s once and North Carolina twice in that three-day span.
Emily Lowen is a reporter. Contact her at e[email protected].
