Ohio falls to Kent in seventh inning

Kent State squeaked by the Ohio softball team with an unearned run in the seventh inning to earn a 5-4 victory in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Both the Golden Flashes (32-20 overall, 17-8 MAC) and the Bobcats (32-22, 15-10) went scoreless in the first inning.

Kent State brought in its first run from catcher Megan McGaughey's home run in the bottom of the second to give the Golden Flashes the early lead.

The Golden Flashes extended their lead with an RBI single from outfielder Danielle Fincham in the third inning and a double in the fourth inning from McGaughey.

Ohio fought back with two unearned runs from shortstop Crystal Turner and outfielder Stephanie Stapleton to cut the lead to 3-2.

Kent State answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth when third baseman Le Ann Fonner had an RBI to extend the lead to 4-2.

The Bobcats tied the score in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs. Turner slammed a home run to left center to bring in the two runs. Ohio kept the Golden Flashes scoreless in the sixth inning but could not put any more runs on the scoreboard in the seventh.

Fincham led off the seventh for Kent State with a walk and eventually scored the winning run. Second Baseman Lea Dorto singled to allow Fincham to score.

Kent State pitcher Kate Leary picked up the complete-game win for the Golden Flashes. Leary gave up six hits and four runs (two earned) in improving her record to 12-6.

McGaughey led the Golden Flashes at the bat. She went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.

Ohio pitcher Kasey Dowd gave up six hits and had one strikeout. Pitcher Heather Hagen gave up four hits and had two strikeouts.

Utility player Sarah Melvin, second baseman Tiffany Bolton, outfielder Erin Chapman and Turner all had doubles, and Turner also had one homerun.

- Jenny Hugenberg