Kent State University’s softball team played its last home game of the season Tuesday, splitting a doubleheader against non-conference opponent Cleveland State University.

Cleveland State won the first game 6-3, as Kent State’s pitcher Alyssa Frankenfield allowed six runs on six hits during 5 2/3 innings.

However, Cleveland State got a complete game performance from pitcher Susan Knight, who allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out five.

Cleveland State won despite committing three errors. The Vikings had opportunities to add more runs to their total, but they stranded seven on base, while the Flashes left only two.

“We had a couple hard hits right at people,” head coach Karen Linder said. “But I just felt like we were a little flat, and I don’t think our energy was where it should have been.”

The Flashes bounced back in the second game by putting up four runs in the first inning against Cleveland State’s Sara Shields, who played just shy of one inning.

After building a 5-1 advantage, it was just a matter of holding on for Kent State, and fortunately Lauren McNeil was stellar on the mound.

McNeil pitched six-plus innings while allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out six.

“I think today will be a confidence boost for [McNeil], and it’s something that she needed,” Linder said. “Her last couple outings, she only went two or three innings. Then we ended up making pitching changes, and today, I definitely was happy she went in later in that first game and was able to stop them.”

The Vikings, however, almost made a come back in the seventh inning when they had a runner on first and second with just one out. Lucky for the Flashes, the righty ended all hopes of a win for the Vikings by getting the last two outs and sending the Flashes to a 24-18-1 record.

Next up for the Flashes is a crucial doubleheader Friday against Miami, who is seeded second in the Mid-American Conference East division. Should the Flashes sweep the series, they will win the MAC East championship.

The first pitch is set to begin Friday at 1 p.m. at the Miami Softball Diamond.

Contact Christian Petrila at [email protected].