Kurt Eichorn during the game between Kent State and Pittsburgh at Schoonover Stadium. The junior catcher and outfielder was named to the second All-MAC team as well as the Academic All-MAC team.

Credit: Beth Rankin

The second half of the Flashes’ 2005 baseball season mirrored the previous season’s second half with one slight difference. The Flashes weren’t able to turn their late season run into tournament success.

Kent State baseball ended the season on a sour note. Miami (39-15, 17-4 Mid-American Conference) swept the Flashes (33-20, 9-10 MAC) in a three-series home stand.

Miami beat Kent State 6-3 in the first game May 20. The Flashes lost their postseason bid the next day in a 4-0 loss. The season ended on Senior Day, May 22, in a 10-1 loss.

The losses kept the Flashes out of the MAC tournament. The Flashes also ended the conference season with a losing record for the first time in 16 years.

Despite the disappointing season, the Flashes still had reasons to be optimistic.

Junior catcher and outfielder Kurt Eichorn was named to the second All-MAC team, alongside fellow junior and outfielder Joe Tucker.

Eichorn, Tucker and junior pitcher Jon Miller were also named to the Academic All-MAC team. Only the Flashes and Bowling Green had three student-athletes named to the Academic All-MAC team.

The highlight of the postseason came with the MLB draft June 7. The San Francisco Giants selected pitcher Chad Wagler as the No. 22 pick in the 18th round. First baseman Andy Hargrove was selected in the 47th round by the Seattle Mariners.

Softball

Softball’s season ended at the Mid-American Conference Championship May 12 in a 2-0 loss to Buffalo.

The No. 8 Flashes (25-27, 10-11 MAC) closed regular season play with a 5-1 loss to No. 1 Marshall and then went on to face Marshall again in the first round of MAC tournament play.

After a 3-2 loss in the first round, the Flashes’ postseason hopes ended in the second round with a 2-0 loss to No. 5 Buffalo.

Despite a disappointing end to the season, two Flashes were named to the Academic All-MAC team. Senior outfielder Abby Molnar and sophomore pitcher Brittney Robinson earned the honors May 19.

Golf

Both Kent State men’s and women’s golf teams finished their seasons at the NCAA Central Regional tournament.

Men’s golf finished in a tie for 17th place, missing a bid to the NCAA Championships by five strokes.

Senior Peter Laws ended his Kent State career with the Flashes’ best round overall. Laws shot on par and tied for the No. 72 spot.

The women tied for 11th place. The Flashes were just six strokes short of advancing to the NCAA Championships.

Freshman Tara Delaney tied for 14th place, finishing ninth overall.

Track and Field

The Kent State track team sent 11 athletes to Sacramento for the NCAA National Championships last week.

Seniors Otis Jordan, Adrian Ghioroaie, Marc Mitchell and sophomore Marc Johnson finished 17th in the 4×100-meter relay.

Sophomore John Harper placed 25th in the discus.

For the women’s team, senior thrower Julie Ward placed fifth in the javelin toss at nationals. Ward also earned All-America honors in the javelin.

Junior pole vaulter Jackie Rodgers finished in fifth place and also earned All-America honors for her event.

The women set a Kent State record by sending five athletes to compete at the national championships.

Contact general assignment reporter Kali Price at [email protected].