Softball Drops MAC Tournament Opener to Ohio

Wednesday, May 7

Akron, Ohio

11:00 a.m.

Kent State University

27-21

Ohio University

29-24

Ohio

Kent State

Dani Ramos

Photo by: David Dermer

Softball Drops MAC Tournament Opener to Ohio

5/7/2014 3:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio — Kent State (24-19) dropped its opening game of the 2014 Mid-American Conference Tournament, 2-1, to Ohio Wednesday afternoon at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

Trailing 2-0 and down to their final three outs, junior Kim Kirkpatrick started the bottom of the seventh inning with a double to right-center. Kirkpatrick moved to third on a single by junior Dani Ramos and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Maddy Grimm. However, the next two batters were retired and the game ended with Ramos left stranded at first.

Ohio struck first with a run in the top of the third inning. After drawing a walk, Taylor Saxton stole second before scoring on a single up the middle by Casie Hutchinson. The Bobcats added another run in the sixth inning on another RBI single by Hutchinson.

Kent State out-hit Ohio in the game, 8-5. Ramos led the way with a 3-for-3 performance at the dish. Sophomore Lauren Kesterson added a pair of hits for the Flashes.

Junior Emma Johnson (14-10) went the distance for Kent State. Johnson had 10 strikeouts but awarded eight walks in the loss.

Kent State plays an elimination game against the loser of this afternoon's Ball State-Miami game tomorrow at 11 a.m.