Softball Falls In Series Finale At Kent State

Sunday, May 2

Kent, Ohio

12 p.m.

Central Michigan University

11-25, 9-17

Kent State

20-21, 16-11

Central Michigan

Kent State

Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22

5/2/2021 4:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

KENT, Ohio – A costly Central Michigan throwing error in the sixth inning allowed Kent State to score the go-ahead run on Sunday as the Golden Flashes handed the Chippewas a 3-2 loss in the finale of a four-game Mid-American Conference softball series at Kent State's Diamond at Dix.

The win gave Kent State the series sweep. The Chippewas are 11-25, 9-17 MAC. They are scheduled to entertain Toledo in a MAC doubleheader on Tuesday, May 4 (1 p.m.), and then are set to go to Akron for a four-game series next weekend.

All four of CMU's losses to the Golden Flashes were close: 3-2, 6-4, 6-1 and 3-2. The Golden Flashes scored 18 runs in the series, 10 of them unearned as CMU committed six errors.

"For us defensively we just have to stay calm in pressure situations and make sure that we're not trying to do too much," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "Now we're going to shift gears and use our day of practice (on Monday) as an opportunity to get better and prepare for Toledo.

"We're seeing growth. Last week our hitters were hot, our pitchers were not. This weekend our pitchers pitched well enough for us to win, but our offense wasn't as consistent. My hope is that they're going to align moving forward for Toledo and Akron this week."

Kent State played error free on Sunday and committed just two miscues in the series. Golden Flashes right fielder Kennadie Goth went up to take a potential three-run home run away from CMU's Shannon Stein in the third inning of Sunday's series finale.

"They consistently made plays defensively," Salmon said of the Golden Flashes. "They stayed clean and that's why they were able to come out with four wins."

CMU's two runs on Sunday came on home runs by Caitlyn Britton and Skylar Coberley. Britton homered for the second consecutive game to give her four on the season. All have come in the last nine games. It was the second round-tripper of the season for Coberley, who also doubled.

Kaitlyn Bean (1-8) took the loss. She struck out two and surrendered five hits over 4 1/3 innings. Cloe Mallory started for the Chippewas and went 1 2/3 innings.

"(Bean) pitched well," Salmon said. "She was moving the ball well, staying composed in the circle, and she made some great plays defensively. She had a good day."

Carlee Selle doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and then pinch runner Jade Ramer went to third on a single by Emily Lippe. Ramer scored on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.