Sophomore pitcher Kylie Reynolds threw a no-hitter in Kent State’s 5-0 win over Northern Illinois in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday to split the two-game series in DeKalb, Ill.

Reynolds said it was important that she felt relaxed and could get herself into a rhythm in the game.

“I felt a lot more relaxed (today) than I felt earlier in the season,” Reynolds said. “It was just really easy today. My curve, which is kind of my go-to pitch, was really working.”

The Kent State batters had ten hits in support of Reynolds shutout, the third straight and sixth overall on the season for last year’s MAC pitcher of the year.

“Kylie did a great job today,” Kent State coach Karen Linder said. “She was very confident on the mound and they just couldn’t put the bat on the ball against her.”

Freshman designated hitter Jess Carmichael, freshman second baseman Holly Finchum and senior center fielder Kim Hamilton led the way for the Flashes offensively with two hits each. Senior left fielder Corey Houk was the only player on the team with multiple RBIs, knocking in two with a single in the sixth inning.

The team’s nine-game MAC win streak stopped in a 2-0 loss to Northern Illinois in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday.

The Flashes (27-9, 10-2 Mid-American Conference) and Huskies were supposed to take the field on Saturday, but rain canceled the game and the teams played two on Sunday instead.

The loss was the third time this season that the Flashes have been shut out by an opponent.

Gabrielle Burns (12-4) only allowed two earned runs in six innings, but still picked up her fourth loss of the season. Burns entered the game with a team leading 1.07 ERA, but got no run support from the offense.

Kent State stranded eight runners, coming through with no RBI hits against Northern Illinois senior pitcher Taryn Hagemann. She struck out five Flashes and gave up only three hits in the effort.

“On paper I think we should have won the game, so it was a frustrating loss,” Linder said. “Their pitcher did a good job and kept us off-balance.”

On Friday the Flashes swept Western Michigan on Ebert Field, their fourth straight sweep in the conference.

In the first game the Flashes were led to a 5-1 win by senior shortstop Jessica Toocheck, who scored twice and had three RBIs, thanks to a homer to right field in the seventh inning.

Burns provided another strong effort on the mound, giving up one earned run in seven innings of work for her 12th win of the season. Burns only gave up four hits on the day and struck out six.

In the second game of the doubleheader Reynolds picked up the fifth shutout of the season in a 4-0 win.

Contact sports reporter Thomas Gallick at [email protected].