Kent State softball lost all three of its conference games against Miami University last weekend. This sets KSU’s conference record at 4-5, and their overall record at 14-16.
“I loved our fight and grit,” coach Jessica O’Donnell said. “The team overall never quit, and that’s continues to be the theme with them. I’m super proud of our team and the way that they fought.”
Friday
During the first game of the series, the Flashes’ offense started off slow. On the flip side, the RedHawks’ offense was steady as they led 5-0 by the end of the fifth inning.
The Flashes didn’t earn any runs until the top of the sixth when freshman catcher Caleigh Shaulis hit her first career grand slam, which scored sophomore left fielder Brooke Aberle, junior center fielder Aaralyn Nogay and senior second baseman Brynn Libler.
Miami immediately responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 8-4. KSU scored three more runs in the top of the seventh thanks to Nogay and Libler’s RBI singles.
Despite this seven-run surge, the Flashes lost 8-7. The RedHawks struck out junior infielder Meagan Meagan Claerhout for the final out of Friday’s game.
Saturday
KSU fought hard in the second game, but lost 9-8.
Nogay hit a lead-off bunt and then stole second base just before Libler’s RBI single, which gave the Flashes the first run of Saturday’s first game. KSU added another run when junior right fielder Ashlyn Porter grounded out, and Libler scored.
Freshman third baseman Gabby Quinn hit an RBI single, which allowed junior first baseman Claerhout to score and close out the top of the first at 3-0.
The RedHawks immediately responded with 3 runs to tie the game. Freshman infielder Mia Estrello reached home on an error before freshman Leila Mathis sent a two-run single into left field to tie the game.
The only run scored in the third inning came from Porter’s RBI single, which let Libler reach home. The Flashes got another rally going in the fourth inning when Aberle scored on Libler’s RBI, who then scored on Shaulis’s RBI to make the Flashes lead 6-3.
Porter then hit an RBI single to close the top of the fourth inning at 7-3, with KSU leading by four.
By the end of the fifth, Miami had racked up four runs to steal a one-run lead. The Flashes immediately tied it, thanks to a fielding error from the RedHawks shortstop. After two and a half scoreless innings, the RedHawks scored in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off win.
KSU opened the scoring of Saturday’s second game when freshman designated player Ciara Camacho hit an RBI double to score Porter. The RedHawks scored six runs in the bottom of the second, and the Flashes didn’t score again until Libler’s RBI double.
After six innings, KSU lost 2-10.
“We can be frustrated,” O’Donnell said. “We can let this hurt a little bit, but we’ve got to quickly turn it around. I really do believe that 1st game on Saturday was the one for us. I’m proud of them for that, but mentally continuing to tell them, ‘This is a game of failure. You’re gonna fail a lot, but you just have to keep getting back up, and stay strong.’”
Key Stats
Porter leads the Flashes in batting average at .379, a very solid clip. Shaulis leads in on-base plus slugging with an average of 1.092.
Leading in RBI is Shaulis with 30; below her is Libler with 17. Shaulis has hit the most home runs with nine, and Porter has the most hits with 33.
Freshman pitcher Riley Miller has the most strikeouts with 35 and the lowest ERA of .502.
What’s Next
The Flashes will play the Bowling Green Falcons at the Devine Diamond starting Friday. This series will be another single-game and doubleheader three-game session with another Mid-American Conference foe.
“Trust your mechanics, trust the work and the preparation that you put in, and have the confidence to go out there,” O’Donnell said. “That’s really what I’d like to see heading into Bowling Green.”
Audrey McCarthy is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].