The Kent State softball team took the midweek series against Buffalo, winning back-to-back series for the first time on the year.

In game one, freshman Macy Irelan pitched seven innings, allowing just two runs. She struck out 14 batters, leading to a 4-2 Kent State  victory. Multiple Flashes had a multi-hit game in game one.

Buffalo took the first lead of the game with a solo shot to left field in the top of the second. 

The Flashes responded in the bottom of the third off a two-run homer down the right field line from freshman catcher Bri Despines. She brought in senior infielder Julia Mazanec to make it a 2-1 game.

KSU added another run in the bottom of the fifth off a two-run single from sophomore utility player Delaney Robeson. She drove in Despines and junior outfielder Jade Ramer to extend the Kent State lead 4-1.

The Bulls added one in the final inning of play with a sacrifice fly, but was all for Buffalo. 

Game two saw much of the same, but Kent State scored first in game two. Sophomore utility player Savannah Wing scored first for the Flashes with a RBI-single to right field. Despines scored on the play making it 1-0.

Kent State added another run after Robeson connected on her seventh home run on the year to make it 2-0 in the bottom of the third. 

In the top of the fifth, Buffalo took the lead with one swing of the bat on a three-run home run by sophomore utility player Madison Fernimen to make it 3-2.

The Flashes rallied back in the bottom of the seventh after sophomore catcher Jalynn Young brought home redshirt senior infielder Alexandria Whitmore on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at three.   

Irelan made another appearance and pitched 3.1 in relief, striking out six to shut the bulls down.

Robeson connected on her second home run of the day and eighth of the year to walk it off for the Flashes in game two. She did so on a 3-2 count with a towering blast over the left field wall to send the rest of the Flashes to mob her at home plate.

“It felt great doing it for the team,” Robeson said. “It’s one of those scenarios that you dream of as a kid, so it was an amazing moment.”

Robeson said that her mentality changed after she struck out in her last at bat. She was 2-2 on the day before striking out and then ended 3-4 in the game after the home run.

“My mentality was really just a reset from the last at-bat, I was mad about striking out and wanted to come through,” she said. “She was just pitching me outside, I was looking inside, I just wanted to put something in play. She gave me a pitch inside and I turned on it.”

After winning the first two games, the Flashes were looking for a sweep, but were shut down by Buffalo’s pitching. Emily Watters from Buffalo pitched a complete game shutout against the Flashes.

A solo home run in the top of the second, and an RBI-double in the top of the seventh was enough for Buffalo to take a 2-0 victory. Despite the loss, the Flashes out-hit the Bulls 5-3. 

Coach Eric Oakley said that the Flashes pitched great and hit poorly but ended up getting a couple of wins out of it.

Oakley added that Macy Irelan found her confidence and is doing much better from earlier on in the season.

“I think she’s learning how to find her confidence,” Oakley said. “We recruit these kids and have the utmost confidence in them, but it’s really them finding their own confidence, and this series you really saw how confident she is and it was really fun to watch.”

Oakley said that going into the last road series of the year, it’s really important to end on a high note.

“We are still working on ourselves and who we are as a team,” Oakley said. “Obviously we’re out of contention to compete in the MAC tournament, so at this point in time we have some work to do on our culture, so that’s what these next couple weeks are going to be.”

Looking ahead, the Flashes will head to Bowling Green for a weekend series, starting on April 29.

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Nico Crespo is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].