The Kent State softball team (13-16, 4-0 MAC) stated off Mid-American Conference play with back-to-back sweeps of Bowling Green (4-16, 0-4) and Toledo (5-22, 1-4) by outscoring the two teams 44-to-13.

After several tournaments and a weeklong break, the Flashes were rested for the start of MAC play as the team looked to continue its dominance in hopes of a sixth straight conference title.

Friday the Flashes played a double-header against the Falcons. Setting the tone early, the Flashes run-ruled the Falcons 10-1 in five innings with the help of a six-run second inning behind a solo shot from junior Shannon Laughlin.

The Flashes won the second game in a pitching duel, 3-2. Freshman Abbey Ledford came through in the clutch early on for the team with a two-out, two-run single in the first.

In the third, the Falcons tied the ball game at two on a two-run home run to keep the pressure on. Then in the fifth, the Flashes reclaimed the lead on an RBI double by junior Mary Holt. The Flashes pitching would hang on for the key win and sweep of the Falcons.

Next up for the team was a twenty-minute drive to Toledo to take on a struggling Rockets team. For game one of the double-header, the Flashes took care of business with an 11-1 victory over the Rockets in five innings. Senior Jessica Carmichael hit her conference-leading ninth homerun of the season as she added four of the Flashes’ 11 runs.

For game number two, the Flashes bombarded the Rockets for 20 runs and run ruled Toledo 20-11 in five innings. Three different Flashes homered: senior Beth Cinadr, Holt and sophomore Abby Rhodes. Combined, the three scored nine of the Flashes 20 runs.

Crucial to the team’s success has been the pitching. With the 4-0 start to conference play, consistency has been found within the rotation. Sophomore Danielle Abernathy was the winning pitcher in three of the team’s four wins over the weekend.

With a 7-3 record and team best 3.23 ERA, Abernathy has been a crucial part to the team’s success as of late.

Next, the Flashes will travel to Moon Township Pa. to take on the Colonials of Robert Morris (12-18) before coming home to take on Western Michigan (7-22) Friday.

Contact Matt Lofgren at [email protected]