The Kent State softball team was swept by Ball State this weekend, in what’s been a major slide for KSU. This sets the Flashes’ overall record at 19-28, and conference record at 7-17.
“Definitely a tough one,” coach Jessica O’Donnell said. “We needed to win the series in order to stay alive, so I thought the fight was there for the most part from the team.”
Friday
On Friday, the Flashes fell 4-3 in extra innings.
Leading off for KSU was junior center fielder Aralyn Nogay, who bunted and then stole second base. After freshman catcher Caleigh Shaulis singled, junior right fielder Ashlyn Porter singled through the right side of the infield to score Nogay and Shaulis.
The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Ball State’s defense played hard all game, and the Flashes didn’t score again until the top of the fifth when Nogay scored on Shaulis’s sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Freshman Riley Miller pitched a good game but couldn’t secure the win as the Cardinals walked off in the bottom of the 8th.
“I’m proud of her resiliency,” O’Donnell said. “I don’t really see her get affected too much; she’s pretty composed for the most part. She might be feeling it inside, but I think in terms of conversation, it’s more or less continuing to build her up and what she’s been doing really well.”
Saturday
On Saturday, KSU lost game one of the doubleheader 12-5.
The Flashes opened up the scoring at the top of the first when senior second baseman Brynn Libler scored on Porter’s single, but Ball State immediately took the lead in the bottom of the first with an eight-run inning.
KSU got a rally going in the fourth inning, but this was not enough to defeat the Cardinals.
Junior designated player Lelani Johnson and freshman shortstop Alex Trevena each scored on sophomore outfielder Brooke Aberle’s single to left field to make the score 8-3. When Nogay singled to center, Aberle was able to cut the lead in half. Nogay scored the fifth and final run for the Flashes on a wild pitch.
The Flashes lost the series’ final game 5-4 in another walk-off.
Johnson’s single to center field allowed freshman third baseman Gabby Quinn to open the scoring in the top of the second, and KSU held on to the lead until the bottom of the fourth.
Going into the sixth inning, the Flashes were down 3-1, but they quickly tied the lead when Shaulis doubled to left field, which scored Nogay and Porter. Just after, junior first baseman Megan Claerhout stole the lead with her single to left field, which scored Shaulis.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals tied the score in the sixth before walking off in the seventh.
Key Stats
Porter leads the Flashes in batting average at .381, continuing her aggressive at-bats at the plate. Shaulis leads in on-base plus slugging with an average of .983.
Shaulis also leads RBI with 42, and below her is Claerhout with 29. Shaulis has hit the most home runs with 10, and Porter has the most hits with 53.
What’s Next
The Flashes play their final series of the year at the Devine Diamond against Western Michigan this weekend, starting Friday.
“In terms of the team,” O’Donnell said, “Just having them show up to fight hard and compete, and be there to support our seniors and leave this program in a better spot than when they came in.”
Audrey McCarthy is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].