Errors Prevent Flashes from Knocking off Top-Seeded Ohio at MAC Softball Tournament

Thursday, May 10

Akron, Ohio

3:30 P.M.

Kent State University

29-22

Ohio

36-15

Kent State

Ohio

Photo by: David Dermer

Errors Prevent Flashes from Knocking off Top-Seeded Ohio at MAC Softball Tournament

5/10/2018 6:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio – For the second year in a row, Kent State will look to come through the loser's bracket to claim the Mid-American Conference Softball Championship after a 3-1 setback to No. 1 seed Ohio in a second-round game Thursday afternoon at Firestone Stadium.

Starting pitcher Madi Huck (18-8) held the Bobcats' explosive offense to just four hits, but a pair of errors allowed three unearned runs to score. She recorded three strikeouts in the game.

A throwing error in the bottom of the third inning extended the frame and allowed Ohio to take a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Flashes (29-22) came right back to tie it in the top of the fourth with clutch two-out at-bats. Maria Cegledy hit single and Kent State had two runners aboard following a walk drawn by Allie Luther. Carlee Selle then sent the ball the opposite way to right field, scoring Cegledy and allowing Luther to advance to third base. The Flashes were unable to push the go-ahead run across the plate.

It remained a tied game until the bottom of the sixth when a dropped ball that would have recorded a force-out gave Ohio the bases loaded with just one out. Huck then punched-out the next batter, which would have been the third out. MacKenzie Brunswick made the most of the extra out, fouling off multiple full-count pitches before lining a ball off the extended glove of a diving Bailey Brownfield at third base to bring the eventual winning run home. The next Ohio batter drew a walk to make it 3-1.

Kent State threatened to make a two-out rally of its own in the top of the seventh, as Kaitlyn Miller singled and pinch hitter Hunter Brancifort was hit by a pitch. The comeback attempt was unable to be completed and the Bobcats were able to induce a groundout to end the game.

The Flashes out-hit the Bobcats, 5-4. Selle led the way with a two-hit day

Kent State will play the winner of Thursday's game between No. 2 Ball State and No. 6 Central Michigan in an elimination contest on Friday at 1 p.m. The winner of that game will play again at 6 p.m. Friday evening.