Hair Homers Twice as Reynolds Becomes KSU's Career Win Leader
4/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
KENT, Ohio - Senior ace Kylie Reynolds became Kent State's career win leader as the Golden Flashes (17-15, 4-1 MAC) dumped Buffalo 8-2 Saturday at the Diamond at Dix. Senior Amy Hair launched a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot in the fourth that started a four-run inning and gave KSU the lead for good.
"Amy was obviously seeing the ball well today," Head Coach Karen Linder said. "She was ready to attack early in the count and the nice thing for her is they came off of two different pitchers. We know she has this kind of power and she showed it before in Las Vegas."
The Flashes left the bases loaded in the first, but Hair came through with a solo shot to left in the second. The Bulls (10-21, 2-3) responded with a run in the third following a walk, a bunt single, a balk and a sacrifice fly. An error put runners at the corners with one out, before catcher Jess Blanton picked a runner off at third.
Blanton's long single to center in the fourth set up Hair's two-run blast to dead center, giving Kent State a 3-1 lead. It was Hair's fourth longball of the year. A two-out walk to Heather Duhon set up an RBI triple to right by Leah Archual. Lauren Grimes followed with a single through the right side to score Archual.
"The bottom part of our order did a really nice job," Linder said of her six through nine batters all recording hits. "And Leah did a great job adjusting and getting hits in her last two at bats."
In the fifth, Jess Carmichael cranked her fifth homer in 11 games. The Bulls came back with a run in the sixth on a double by Kristin Waldron.
Duhon and Mary Holt each singled up the middle to start the Flashes' two-run sixth inning. Archual then scorched a single to left for her second RBI of the day.
"We were rested today and excited about playing at home," Linder said. "Recently we'd been road weary. This team loves to play no matter what, but it makes a difference when you're rested."
Reynolds (12-11) ended the day with a dozen strikeouts and walked just one batter. Her 71 career wins places her ahead of Carla Brookbank as KSU's career leader.
"You recruit someone and hope they can contribute," Linder said with a smile. "Kylie came in and contributed right away as a freshman and has continued to mature as a pitcher both mentally and physically. The record wasn't something she set out to do, but it's something that comes with being able dominate for four years."
The Flashes out-hit the Bulls 10-4, while each team had one error. At 4-1, KSU is alone in first place atop the MAC East standings.
"There were a lot of positives from an offensive standpoint," Linder said. "But we've got to reduce the number of strikeouts."
The Golden Flashes and Bulls will play their rematch Sunday at 1 p.m.
