The Kent State softball team split four games against Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University this weekend, but the Flashes recorded their 1000^th all-time win Friday.

 

Game 1: Kent State 7, Central Michigan 0

Kent State (30-11, 9-4 Mid-American Conference) opened its road series against Central Michigan on Friday and earned a historic victory in the meantime.

Senior pitcher Emma Johnson (15-5) led the Flashes to a 7-0 win after pitching six hitless innings with 10 strikeouts.

Freshman Holly Speers put the Flashes on the board in the first inning with an RBI single up the third base line, scoring senior Kim Kirkpatrick.

Junior Shelbi Tilton followed with an RBI single to left field, giving the Flashes a 2-0 lead over the Chippewas.

Tilton recorded two more RBIs after she singled up the middle in the fifth inning before sophomore Janel Hayes hit a double to left field, making the score 6-0.

Sophomore pitcher Ronnie Ladines would score the last run of the game with a RBI single to center field, giving the Flashes a 7-0 win.

Game 2: Central Michigan 4, Kent State 0

The scoring ceased in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader as Central Michigan held the Flashes scoreless in the 4-0 loss.

The Flashes went 2-for-15 with runners on base while the Chippewas were 5-for-15.

“Our bats were flat,” coach Karen Linder said. “We could not get anything going.”

Ladines (9-5) earned six strikeouts and allowed four runs on 10 hits.

 

Game 1: Kent State 2, Eastern Michigan 1 (11 innings)

Johnson would lead the Flashes to a 2-1 win over Eastern Michigan in extra innings following Friday’s loss.

Johnson recorded 15 strikeouts on the day allowing one run on four hits throughout the 11 innings.

“Emma…did a great job of keeping us in the game until we were able to put some offense together,” Linder said. “The defense played great and the pitchers did their jobs.”

Sophomore Maddy Grimm scored the first run of the day with an RBI single in the third inning to give the Flashes a 1-0 lead.

Central Michigan answered with one run in the fourth inning tying the score at one run apiece.

The two teams remained scoreless until the 11th inning when the Flashes scored an unearned run. Hayes hit a fly ball into shallow right field, bringing home junior Chloe Kesterson and giving Kent State a 2-1 win.

Game 2: Eastern Michigan 2, Kent State 0

Kesterson’s run would be the last run of the day for Kent State as the Flashes were shutout 2-0 by Eastern Michigan in the second game Saturday.

A home run in the first and an RBI double in the third would score the only two runs for the Eagles after the Flashes outhit Eastern Michigan 7-6.

“It was a tough day for us getting clutch hits,” Linder said. “A lot of our scoring is through home runs and doubles. (Saturday), the wind was blowing in and the ball didn’t travel.  Plus EMU made some great defensive plays. We had chances, but didn’t get the clutch hits we needed.”

The Flashes will return to the Diamond at Dix where they will take on Robert Morris in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Contact Zac Sommer at [email protected].