Softball loses against Kent State, faces elimination in MAC tournament
The Central Michigan softball team let a brief lead slip away Thursday and suffered its first loss in the Mid-American Conference tournament, 4-2 against Kent State at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
The loss moves CMU (27-18) to the consolation bracket, where it will play No. 3 seed Miami (OH) at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The RedHawks eliminated Buffalo 17-1 on Thursday.
Kent State got out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning following a home run by third baseman Jessica Charmichael. The Chippewas, however, responded in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Senior Katie Greenman reached base on an infield bunt single to begin the rally. Following a sacrifice bunt by junior Brittini Merchant (1-for-3), junior Amanda Patrick homered to right-center field to put CMU ahead.
The top-seeded Golden Flashes put a two-spot on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Freshman starting pitcher Kara Dornbos walked and surrendered a two-out triple to KSU's Lauren Grimes. Grimes would score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch during the subsequent batter.
Kent State (32-20) added another run on a solo home run by Jessica Blanton in the sixth inning.
Dornbos (10-6) took the loss after giving up four runs on three hits on 5 1/3 innings pitched.
