Softball team battles Bulls, possible bad weather

Kent State’s softball team huddles together before an at-bat during Tuesday’s game. The Flashes play Buffalo tomorrow in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

Credit: Andrew popik

The Kent State softball team (14-13, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) will look to continue its recent success as it plays host to Buffalo (5-19, 1-2 MAC) for a weekend series tomorrow and Sunday.

While the conference season is still young, the Flashes are currently tied for first in the MAC East Division as they head into three games against the Bulls with a double header 1 p.m. tomorrow and the finale 1 p.m. Sunday, coming off their doubleheader wins against Robert Morris yesterday. The Flashes won, 3-2 and 8-7.

The Flashes have had good luck against the Bulls in the past, holding an 8-2 advantage in the all-time series.

The two teams did not meet last season, as inclimate weather forced the canceling of their contests. The last time the schools met, however, the Flashes swept the Bulls in 2003. Three wins this weekend would give Kent State a chance to take hold of the MAC standings early in the season.

The Flashes hope to see similar results, if Mother Nature will allow the schools to see the field. Weather looks to be an issue for the series once again. Conditions for the weekend in Kent call for rain and snow showers with a high in the low to mid-40s — a return to typical Ohio spring weather.

Unlike other sports in the conference, only the top two teams in each division and the two other schools with the highest winning percentage outside of those four make the championships. The Flashes were picked third in the MAC East preseason coaches’ poll.

Contact softball reporter Colin Harris at [email protected].