The Kent State softball team (17-8, 3-0) is riding a 10 game winning streak into their second MAC series this weekend at Northern Illinois (7-19, 1-5) The Flashes have done it with complimentary team success with the offense, defense and pitching all stepping up at times.
Offensively, the Flashes are 22nd nationally with a .324 batting average and they rank second in the MAC with over five runs a game.
In the circle, sophomore Macy Irelan has been MAC Pitcher of the Week the last two weeks with a 4-0 record and a 0.55 ERA. Freshman Megan Nuechterlein is 10-3 on the season and has delivered at least six innings in each of her last three starts.
First year Head Coach Jessica O’Donnell was recently a guest on Flash Talk, the weekly Kent State sports show that airs on Bally Sports to discuss the red hot Flashes and their young pitching staff.
“I’ve been really impressed with the job that Coach P (Coach Petrie) my assistant has been doing with our pitching staff, just trying to get them up to veteran status for as young as they are, freshman and sophomores. I’ve been impressed with the work and what our pitchers are putting in and taking every batter and really going after them.”
The Golden Flashes are off to their first 3-0 start since MAC play, the last time the program won the MAC regular season title.
KSU is looking to ride the wave of momentum into Dekalb this weekend. Kent State will play a single game on Friday at 4pm and a doubleheader on Saturday. O’Donnell and her staff continue to work to change the culture.
“It’s the desire to win, and changing the mindset to more grateful,” O’Donnell said. “We’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Let’s give it everything we’ve got today and I’ve been able to see some really great things, some great plays, some great situational hitting just by having that mindset of tomorrow’s not guaranteed, go give it all today.”