Flashes Top Akron 3-1 in Opening Round
5/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
AKRON, Ohio - Kylie Reynolds struck out 12 and left seven Akron runners on as Kent State topped the Zips 3-1 Thursday morning (May 7) in the opening round of the MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium. Reynolds became the Golden Flashes' all-time strikeout leader, passing her former teammate Brittney Robinson.
The Flashes scored twice in the first and never looked back. They will play the winner of the Ohio vs. Western Michigan later in the evening.
"Kylie took total control of the game," Head Coach Karen Linder said. "She had good command of the strike zone and the strikeouts today were key."
Leah Archual drove a double into deep right center to start a KSU rally in the first. Lauren Brocklehurst was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for Ashlee Hein, who drilled a double off the fence in dead center field. Both runners scored as the attempt to throw Brocklehurst out at the plate was a bit up the third base line.
"Coming out and scoring in the first inning was huge," Linder said. "Our plate discipline was much better and we attacked early in the count. We also fouled a lot of balls off and really made their pitcher work"
Reynolds ended the first through fourth innings with strikeouts and officially became the Flashes' all-time strikeout leader in the top of the fifth with her ninth punchout of the game. The junior right-hander ran her career total to 860 strikeouts and did not walk a single batter.
KSU left a pair of runners on in the second and fourth innings and made it a 3-0 lead in the fifth, when Jess Carmichael sent a one out, solo shot to left center field. However, Akron responded with four hits in the top of the sixth.
The Flashes caught a break in the sixth with no outs and Akron runners on second and third. A wild pitch got past Hein, but took a very friendly bounce off the backstop and back to Hein who turned and threw to Reynolds covering the plate. Reynolds made the tag on the runner to get the important first out helping hold Akron to just one run in the frame despite four hits.
Akron put another runner on in the seventh before Reynolds ended the game with a strikeout. The Zips out-hit the Flashes 9-6, but many of the Zips' hits stayed in the infield.
"You know Akron's going to play a short game with a lot of bunts and slaps," Linder said. "They did do a good job of putting the bat on the ball, but when they got runners on base, Kylie got the outs.
Katie Wheeler went 2-for-3 at the plate. Neither team committed an error.
Akron will play the loser of the Ohio vs. Western Michigan game in the sixth and final game of the day.
