On Tuesday, the Kent State softball team lost both games against Ohio University on its home turf at Devine Diamond. 

The Flashes (18-12, 4-4 MAC) underscored Ohio 3-11 in the rainy conditions. 

“We didn’t get started till 2:00 getting the field ready to go,” coach Jessica O’Donnell said. “I think the team was hyped and excited for the game, but with that waiting period, the energy they had just got wasted.”

Game 1

The first inning of the game put the Flashes up one when sophomore Bri Despines scored a single. 

Unfortunately, that was the end of the Flashes scoring in Game 1.

Ohio proceeded to score in the top of the second and third innings, putting them up 4-1. 

The Flashes were given a chance when sophomore Carley Penner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and graduate student Alexandria Whitmore followed a fly ball out with a single to get runners on the corners. 

That play ended with a popup on the next pitch. 

Ohio scored three more runs ending the game 7-1. 

Game 2

Again, the Flashes scored in the bottom of the first inning when Whitmore sent the first pitch over the left fielder’s head for a lead-off double. 

Whitmore swiped third before scoring on a single from sophomore Byrnn Libler, getting them that 1-0 lead.

Freshman Megan Nuechterlein, a pitcher, retired the first eight batters before she allowed a double and a triple, making the score 1-1. 

Ohio led 2-1 in the top of the fourth with a triple.

Freshman Kenzie Bromley started the bottom of the fifth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. 

Whitmore followed with a single up the middle, and Bromley was able to make it home, once again tying the game. 

Ohio added another run in the sixth and seventh innings overall, winning the game 4-2. 

Outstanding individuals 

Graduate student infielder Alexandria Whitmore 

“She found a way to get on base right off the bat in both games,” O’Donnell said. “She made great adjustments and hit away.”

Whitmore helped the team offensively by scoring and assisting with runs that they did. 

Freshman infielder Kenzie Bromley

“She was three for three in the second game,” O’Donnell said. “She continued to give us opportunities. She scored a run in the game and always found a way to get on base.” 

O’Donnell was impressed with Bromley’s breakthrough.

“She hasn’t been her best in a few weeks, so to see her kind of breakthrough yesterday against that team was pretty impressive,” O’Donnell said.

Coming up

The team will head to Toledo, Ohio, to play in their next Mid-American Conference game against Toledo. 

O’Donnell is looking to get the team on the same page moving forward into their season. 

“Some games pitching does really well, and we don’t hit as well. Sometimes, we hit really well and don’t pitch as well. Or we give up errors,” O’Donnell said. “We need to get on the same page, like let’s have a game where everything clicks. We haven’t had that since we played Ball State a couple of weeks ago.”

Robyn Taylor is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].