Flashes end nonconference schedule with loss at Pitt

Kent+State+junior+Sydney+Anderson+rounds+the+bases+as+Pitt+shortstop+Olivia+Gray+catches+a+fly+ball+during+the+Flashes+6-4+loss+on+April+18%2C+2018.

Kent State junior Sydney Anderson rounds the bases as Pitt shortstop Olivia Gray catches a fly ball during the Flashes’ 6-4 loss on April 18, 2018.

Chad Flannery

Despite a two-home run day by senior Emily Dobbin, Kent State (26-20, 12-8 Mid-American Conference) dropped its final nonconference game to Pittsburgh (29-16-1) by a score of 14-4.

Dobbin lead the way offensively for Kent State, going 3-for-3 with a single and two two-run home runs. She also recorded four RBI on the day.

Freshmen Kennadie Goth and Brenna Brownfield each recorded a double as well.

The Panthers got off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. In the second, they added another on a solo home run to make the score 5-0.

Kent State would begin to answer back in the third thanks to a two-run shot by Dobbin to cut the lead to three.

However, Pittsburgh would respond with five runs in the bottom of the third and four in the fourth to push the lead to double digits.

Down 12 runs in the top of the fifth, Dobbin tacked on her second two-run homer of the game to cut the lead to 10, but the offense stopped there for the Flashes.

They would fall victim to the run rule at the end of the inning after failing to cut the deficit below eight.

The multi-home run game by Dobbin was the first of her career.

Kent State will return to the Diamond at Dix Friday for a weekend series against rival Akron. This will close out the regular season for the Flashes. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.

Chad Flannery is a sports reporter. Contact him at [email protected].