The way freshman Kylie Reynolds pitched in the first game of a doubleheader against Buffalo yesterday, she didn’t require much offense. However, the rest of the Kent State softball team provided plenty of it anyway.

Reynolds (12-6) tossed a no-hitter in the first game – a 10-0 blowout – striking out 13 in five innings before the mercy rule was put into effect. The only blemish on her stat sheet was a second-inning walk.

Meanwhile, Reynolds’ teammates pounded out 12 hits, including a record-breaking home run from junior first baseman Jamie Fitzpatrick.

The Flashes got on the board early. With one out in the top of the first, junior shortstop Jessica Toocheck walked and scored on senior right fielder Brittney Robinson’s double. Robinson then scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of junior left fielder Corey Houk.

Kent State put the game away with seven runs in the top of the fourth. Senior third baseman Megan Verde’s double scored Houk, who led off with a single. Freshman catcher Amy Hair plated Verde with a single, moved to second on the throw, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on senior second baseman Jessica Kramb’s one-out single.

After Kramb was caught stealing, junior center fielder Kim Hamilton singled. Toocheck followed with a two-run home run. Robinson reached on an error, and Fitzpatrick made the Bulls pay for the error with her 12th home run of the season, setting a Kent State career record for home runs with 27 and tying her season record. The two-run homer gave the Flashes a 9-0 lead.

The Flashes capped off their scoring with a run in the top of the fifth. With one out, sophomore pinch-hitter Kalie Germaine doubled, stole third and scored on a Hamilton single.

The mercy rule was put into effect after Reynolds struck out two Buffalo batters to end the fifth.

Game two was closer, but the end result was the same, as the Flashes won, 5-1. Robinson got the victory with five innings of two-hit ball, striking out six to improve her record to 11-8 on the year.

The Flashes got on the board in the top of the second when Hamilton doubled in Verde and Hair and later scored to give the team a 3-0 lead.

The Flashes return home for a doubleheader against Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon.

Contact softball reporter Doug Gulasy at [email protected].