Kent State coach ‘disappointed’ after doubleheader full of errors

Kent State softball coach Karen Linder summed up her feelings after Cleveland State swept the Flashes in a doubleheader yesterday in one word: Disappointed.

The Vikings (28-15) defeated the Flashes (23-21) 4-1 in a first game marred by errors and shut out Kent State 6-0 to conclude the sweep at the Diamond at Dix.

Kent State junior pitcher Kylie Reynolds (18-13) shut out the Vikings for the first four innings in the opening game before giving up two runs in the fifth.

The Flashes responded with their lone run in the bottom of the fifth before giving up two unearned runs in a four-error sixth inning.

“I don’t know where that came from,” Linder said of the team’s defensive struggle in the sixth.

The team had seven total errors in its last five games before yesterday’s doubleheader, including five in its last game, a 4-3 win at Bowling Green.

Reynolds said the weak defensive effort did not distract her on the mound.

“Really, I just tune (errors) out,” Reynolds said. “Honestly it was just one of those days for us where you just got to forget about it and move on.”

Reynolds struck out seven and walked one in the loss, her third in her last three starts.

Linder brought in sophomore pitcher Markie Pozzuto to start the second game of the doubleheader. Pozzuto retired the side in the first with no problem before giving up a solo home run in the second.

The home run to left center field by designated player Lia Gordon was all the offense the Vikings needed in the second game.

Cleveland State sophomore pitcher Brittany Bate shut the Flashes down through the whole game, allowing four hits and striking out eight.

Junior center fielder Leah Archual was the lone bright spot in Kent State’s lineup, with two of the team’s four hits. Archual, who entered the game with a .302 batting average, had the team’s only extra base hit in the game when she doubled in the third.

“We talked about having four phases of the game: mental toughness, pitching, defense and offense,” Linder said. “None of them were consistent throughout the day.

“When you don’t have any of those there, you’re going to get your butt kicked.”

Contact assistant sports editor Thomas Gallick at [email protected].