Kent State shortstop Holly Speers came back with a bang after being out for about a month due to an injury. 

Speers hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning of the Flashes (16-23, 7-8 Mid-American Conference) first game of the Flashes’ Friday doubleheader against Miami (OH). The home run tied the game at four.

“It’s great being back,” Speers said after the game. “I miss being on the field. I miss being with the team. The trainers did a great job getting me back and so did the coaches. I’m happy to be back.”

However, Speers’ home run was the last run the Flashes were able to scrape across the plate, and the Redhawks (23-17, 9-6 MAC) scored eight runs in the sixth inning to make the score 12-4, which ended the game due to the eight-run mercy rule. 

Kent State came back strong in the beginning of the game second game of the doubleheader and eventually held a 2-0 over Miami (OH) going into the seventh inning. 

With the bases loaded, Miami University’s Rylee Whispel doubled to center field which scored two runs for the Redhawks.

“Madi Huck pitched a great game second game, but we gave them way extra at-bats,” coach Eric Oakley said.

Huck allowed two earned runs and struck out six.

“Terrible,” Oakley said of the team’s performance in the doubleheader. “We can’t play (how we did today) and think that we deserve to be in the Mid-American Conference tournament.”

In the series finale game against Miami University on Saturday, three home runs lead to the Flashes 3-2 victory.

“I thought the game today went really well,” Speers said. “We came out with a lot more intensity than we have. We had better approaches today at the plate. We came out more like Kent State.”

Speers and Ronnie Ladines each hit home runs in the first two innings to give the Flashes a 2-0 lead.

Speers had one last home run to center field in the sixth inning that just snuck over the center-field wall.

Kent State’s defense made a double play in the sixth inning to keep Miami from scoring.

Ladines had two walks, six strikeouts and allowed one earned run.

“It’s the third game of the series, you except hitters to put the ball in play more and more,” Ladines said after the victory. “We had some great defense and they did too.”

“We are happy to get the win,” Oakley said. “Especially the way the MAC is right now because everybody is pretty tight so every win is going to be huge. We needed to get one today for sure after losing both yesterday. A win today keeps our head above water and keeps us in control of our own destiny which is important at this time of year.” 

The Flashes take on Saint Francis (PA) this Wednesday at 3 p.m.