Kent State softball’s (8-9) early season struggles continued this past weekend as they dropped three of its four games.

The Flashes dropped their first game to the University of Dayton (9-10) by a score of 3-2 in eight innings. Maddy Grimm started the game with a leadoff home run for the Flashes. The 1-0 lead lasted until the Flyers tied the game up on the fourth when Gabrielle Snyder scored on a error to tie the game at one. The Flyers took the lead for good in the top of the eighth when Kyle Davidson hit an RBI single, which was followed up by a Lisa Tassi double that increased the Dayton lead to 3-1. The Flashes managed to score one run in the bottom of the inning. Ronnie Ladines (3-4) threw all eight innings for Kent State.

The Flashes’ lone weekend win came later in the day on Friday against Drexel (3-3). The Flashes, as a team, only managed to record six hits off of the Dragons’ pitching, but three of those six hits with extra-base hits, all of which drove in runs. Grimm hit an RBI double as well as a home run, and Holly Speers and Jen Cader each hit RBI doubles. Janel Hayes (5-2) threw five innings to record the win. Linda Rush led Drexel with two hits.

The Flashes failed to build on that momentum going into Saturday, however, as they fell their next time out to No.20 Kentucky (17-4). The Flashes only managed to record one hit off the Wildcats, who scored their two runs on RBI doubles from Abbey Cheek and Katie Reed in the fourth inning. Ladines (3-5) threw six innings on the mound but once again took the loss. Ladines also managed to record Kent State’s only hit.

Their losing streak continued into Sunday when they fell to the No.15 University of Michigan (14-6-1) by a final score of 5-1. The Flashes lone run was the first run either team scored, and it came by way of a Grimm RBI double. The Wolverines responded in the bottom half of the inning when they scored three runs that came via a groundout, hit by pitch and walk. Ladines (3-6) was once again on the mound for the loss, while Tera Blanco (8-2) not only pitched up the victory on the mound for Michigan, but also recorded three RBI.

Softball will take on Michigan again next weekend when they travel to Ann Arbor for a double-header.  

Henry Palattella is the sports editor, contact him at [email protected].