Softball opens conference play

File+photo.+The+Flashes+greet+junior+shortstop+Mary+Holt+at+the+plate+after+she+scored+the+winning+run+off+of+a+base-clearing+double+by+junior+3rd+baseman+Jessica+Blanton+on+Sunday%2C+April+10.+The+Flashes+had+a+five-run+seventh+inning+and+defeated+Northern+Illinois+8-7.+Photo+by+Jessica+Yanesh.

File photo. The Flashes greet junior shortstop Mary Holt at the plate after she scored the winning run off of a base-clearing double by junior 3rd baseman Jessica Blanton on Sunday, April 10. The Flashes had a five-run seventh inning and defeated Northern Illinois 8-7. Photo by Jessica Yanesh.

John Dvozenja

The Kent State softball team will be playing in four Mid-American Conference league games this weekend. This is the first time this year the Flashes will be playing in conference games.

The Flashes begin their weekend matchups against Central Michigan at noon Friday. The Chippewas are 13-11 and are coming off 14-4 and 11-1 victories over Detroit last week.

The Flashes will wrap their weekend with Eastern Michigan Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Eastern Michigan (11-17) is also coming off of back-to-back wins, crushing Oakland 10-2 and 13-0, respectively.

This is a crucial part of the season for the Flashes, who hope their 13-15 record improves against MAC opponents.

Kent State will play 10 consecutive home conference games. Four of those 10 games will be played this weekend, opening up with a double-header beginning at noon Friday against Central Michigan and a 2 p.m. start Saturday against Eastern Michigan and a final game Sunday against Eastern Michigan slated for 1 p.m.

-John Dvozenja