July 2, 2012
Hamilton Posts Third Longest Throw at Olympic Trials
Kent State graduate Kim Hamilton came up just shy of earning a trip to London Sunday in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials. Hamilton's javelin throw of 190-5 was a personal best and the third longest toss at the trials

June 21, 2012
Kent State Coaches and Former Players to be Honored Saturday at Racers' Game
Seven former Kent State softball players and coaches will be among 40 honorees that will be recognized at Firestone Stadium Saturday night in honor of the 40th anniversary of the passing of Title IX. The ceremony puts an exclamation point on a decorated spring for numerous former Kent State players and assistant coaches.

May 15, 2012
Softball Nets Highest GPA in Program History
The Golden Flashes’ 22-member roster averaged an unprecedented 3.645 grade point average for the spring semester. The academic milestone was not only the highest in program history, but also the highest of any Kent State team competing in-season.

May 13, 2012
Grimes Named to MAC All-Tournament Team
In three tournament games, Grimes hit .556 (5-for-9) with a walk, a home run, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. In the Golden Flashes’ win over Ohio, her two-run, first-inning homer, gave Kent State a lead it would not give up.

May 10, 2012
Flashes Launch Three Home Runs in Win Over Bobcats
For the seventh consecutive season, Kent State (27-29) is among the final six teams standing at the Mid-American Conference Championships. The Golden Flashes offense came alive with nine hits and three home runs in a 9-5 win over Ohio Thursday at Firestone Stadium.

May 9, 2012
Chippewas Edge Flashes in MAC Opening Round
Golden Flashes will take on Ohio in an elimination game Thursday at 11 a.m.

May 8, 2012
Flashes Begin MAC Championships Wednesday Against Central Michigan
This season marks Kent State’s ninth straight appearance at the MAC Championships, the longest current streak of any program. The four-day double elimination tournament is scheduled to conclude Saturday, May 12.

May 8, 2012
Johnson and Ramos Earn MAC Honors
Emma Johnson was named to the All-MAC Second Team by league coaches and was tabbed MAC Freshman of the Year by College Sports Madness. Johnson and outfielder Dani Ramos were also both named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

May 6, 2012
Flashes Close Out Regular Season with Loss at Ohio
The Bobcats pulled away in the bottom of the fourth with a grand slam to take a 5-0 lead. Caitie Kilbane, Abbey Ledford and Jess Blanton all singled, but the Golden Flashes were unable to string together two hits in an inning.

May 5, 2012
Flashes Drop Another One-Run Game
All three Ohio runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Jess Blanton (Wheelersburg, Ohio) lifted a two-run homer to left.

May 4, 2012
Akron Narrows Wagon Wheel Challenge Gap with Softball Sweep
Akron topped Kent State in both games of a doubleheader with scores of 5-0 and 5-4 Friday at Lee Jackson Field. A two-out, fifth inning grand slam by the Zips proved to be the difference in game two.

May 3, 2012
Flashes to Conclude Regular Season at Akron and Ohio
The Golden Flashes (26-24, 11-7) visit Akron for a doubleheader Friday with a PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge point on the line. Kent State then heads south to Athens for single games with Ohio Saturday and Sunday. The Golden Flashes currently hold a one-game lead over the Bobcats (23-26, 10-8) for fourth place in the overall MAC standings, which earns a first round bye at next week’s conference tournament.

April 29, 2012
RedHawks Slip Past Flashes in the Seventh
Miami scored twice in the top of the seventh and held on for a 3-2 victory over Kent State (26-23, 11-7) Sunday at the Diamond at Dix. Mary Holt homered on her Senior Day, while sophomore Alex Marcantonio went deep for the second time in as many days.

April 28, 2012
RedHawks Get the Better of Flashes Following Long Delay
Sophomore Alex Marcantonio (North Canton, Ohio) put Kent State on the board in the fifth with her fifth homer of the season to right center field.

April 27, 2012
Flashes Settle for Split with Ball State
Ball State held on to its slim lead in the MAC standings Friday as Kent State split a doubleheader with the Cardinals at the Diamond at Dix. Freshman Emma Johnson tossed 10 innings on the day and tallied 15 strikeouts against the top hitting team in the conference.

April 26, 2012
Flashes Host Pivotal MAC Series with Ball State and Miami in Final Home Weekend
Kent State enters a huge weekend of Mid-American Conference competition as three of the top four teams in the MAC will be in action at the Diamond at Dix. Kent State currently sits in third place in the overall MAC standings at 10-4, just one game behind Ball State (10-2), who will visit for a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m.

April 25, 2012
Flashes Win Third Straight Before Falling to Penn State in Split
The Golden Flashes smacked 14 hits in the opener and needed just one out in the bottom of the fifth, before the run rule took effect in an 11-3 win. Penn State’s Lisa Akamine then held Kent State to just two hits in a 9-0 shutout.

April 24, 2012
Flashes Host Penn State Wednesday in Final Non-Conference Doubleheader
The Golden Flashes totaled 25 runs on 27 hits, including eight homers and four two-baggers in a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo this past Sunday. Kent State’s seven home runs in Sunday’s opener broke a single-game school record.

April 24, 2012
Laughlin Named MAC East Player of the Week
In a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo, Laughlin hit .600 (6-for-10) with two doubles, a home run and seven runs batted in.

April 22, 2012
Flashes Smash Seven Homers in 10-Inning Win and Go On to Sweep Buffalo
Finding a way to win close games has been a recurring theme for the Kent State softball team this season. The Golden Flashes took that theme to a whole different level Sunday with a 10-inning, 14-11 opening game victory over Buffalo in a contest that saw 32 hits and nine home runs. Kent State completed the sweep with a 9-6 win, which featured another 20 hits.

April 21, 2012
Softball at Buffalo Postponed; Doubleheader Sunday at Noon
The Golden Flashes are currently one game back of first place in the East Division, while the Bulls are just a game and a half back of fifth place in the overall MAC standings.

April 15, 2012
Northern Illinois Holds On To Early Lead
Kent State’s offense totaled 10 hits Sunday afternoon at Northern Illinois, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback in a 9-4 loss to the Huskies. NIU (18-23, 6-6) came away with 11 hits to complete the two-game series sweep.

April 14, 2012
Flashes' Five-Game Winning Streak Ends at Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois scored four runs in the third and three in the fifth on its way to a 7-3 home victory over Kent State Saturday afternoon. The Huskies battled back from a three-run deficit to end the Golden Flashes five-game winning streak.

April 13, 2012
Flashes Win a Pair of Extra-Inning Games in Sweep of Western Michigan
Kent State extended its winning streak to five games Friday with a doubleheader sweep over defending Mid-American Conference champion Western Michigan. Staying at the top of the MAC standings, the Golden Flashes (22-18, 8-2) needed extra innings in both games, topping the Broncos 2-1 in the opener and 4-2 in game two.

April 12, 2012
Flashes Travel to Western Michigan and Northern Illinois This Weekend
Miami, Bowling Green and Kent State currently sit in a three-way tie for the best record in the conference at 6-2. Five other teams, including WMU and NIU, are within two games of the top spot.

April 9, 2012
Doubleheader at Cleveland State Canceled
Kent State's softball doubleheader originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 10 has been canceled due to anticipated weather and will not be made up.

April 8, 2012
Flashes Win Third Straight, Topping Toledo 6-5
Shannon Laughlin and Abbey Ledford each went deep, helping the Golden Flashes (20-18, 6-2) remain in a tie for first place in the conference. The Rockets scored twice in the seventh and had the tying run on, before Alex Marcantonio made the final play of the game at shortstop.

April 7, 2012
Kirkpatrick Complete Flashes Comeback in Win over Toledo
Kent State overcame an early deficit to top Toledo 4-2 Saturday at the Diamond at Dix. The Golden Flashes (19-18) remain in a tie for first place in the Mid-American Conference at 5-2.

April 6, 2012
Outfielders Gun Down Two at the Plate in the Seventh to Give Flashes Game Two Win
Kent State and Bowling Green remain tied atop the MAC East standings following a doubleheader split Friday at the Diamond at Dix. The Falcons smacked a pair of third-inning home runs in a 4-2 opening game victory. In game two, it was the Golden Flashes’ two homers that made the difference in a 3-1 win.

April 5, 2012
Softball Team Making Strides for Autism
For the second straight season, the Kent State softball team is sponsoring Joey Cheney and the Family Child Learning Center during Autism Awareness Month.

April 4, 2012
Abernathy Flirts with Perfection in Flashes' Split with Robert Morris
Junior Danielle Abernathy (Adairsville, Ga.) retired the first 18 batters she faced in game two of Kent State’s doubleheader split with Robert Morris Wednesday at the Diamond at Dix.

April 4, 2012
Flashes to Host Bowling Green and Toledo This Weekend
The Golden Flashes (17-17, 3-1 MAC) host Bowling Green (18-13, 3-1) in a doubleheader Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. Both teams are in a three-way tie with Ohio atop the MAC East standings. Toledo (10-16) then comes to Kent for single games on Saturday and Sunday.

April 3, 2012
Johnson Earns Second MAC Weekly Honor
In four conference appearances this past weekend, Johnson went 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and complete game victories in each of her two starts. On Saturday, Johnson held Eastern Michigan to just one run on three hits in seven innings of work.

April 2, 2012
Flashes Host Robert Morris in Doubleheader Wednesday
Coming off of a 4-2 week, Kent State (16-16) has gone 12-7 since March 4. Kent State ranks 13th in the nation in doubles per game (1.5), led by Holt and Laughlin with eight

April 1, 2012
Eastern Michigan Hands Kent State Its First MAC Loss
The Eagles jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third and staved off the Golden Flashes’ seventh-inning comeback attempt. Both teams moved to 3-1 in conference play as Kent State’s four-game winning streak came to an end.

March 31, 2012
Flashes Win Fourth Straight, Downing Eastern Michigan 6-1
The Golden Flashes (16-15, 3-0 MAC) scored four runs in the third with two outs, beginning with a clutch double by senior Shannon Laughlin.

March 30, 2012
Flashes Open Conference Play Hosting Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan
Start time for Friday's game one against Central Michigan has been moved to noon. The Flashes are coming off an 8-5 game two victory at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Kent State totaled 12 hits in the win, including four doubles.

March 30, 2012
Four Flashes Homer in Sweep of Central Michigan
The Golden Flashes opened MAC play with a 5-2 victory in game one and overcame an early deficit in a 3-2 win later in the day. The Flashes scored all but one of its runs on the day by way of the long ball.

March 28, 2012
Flashes Smack 12 Hits in Game 2 Victory at Pittsburgh
Kent State will head into Mid-American Conference play with a little momentum thanks to an 8-5 victory against Pittsburgh in a doubleheader split Wednesday at Vartabedian Field. The Panthers (16-13) took game one 6-0, before the Golden Flashes (13-15) collected 12 hits in game two, including four doubles.

March 27, 2012
Flashes to Take on Pittsburgh in Wednesday Doubleheader
The Kent State softball team will get its final tune-up before Mid-American Conference play Wednesday, in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Pittsburgh (15-12). Earlier this season, the Panthers downed the Flashes 5-2 on Feb. 26 at the Wolfpack Invitational.

March 21, 2012
Flashes Visit Central Florida for Single Game Wednesday Night
The Knights have won 16 of their last 19 games, while the Golden Flashes have won 8-of-12. Kent State went 3-2 this past weekend at the USF Invitational, with shutout victories over Colgate and Coastal Carolina.

March 18, 2012
Flashes End 3-Win Weekend with Victory over Providence
Sophomore winning pitcher Lauren McNeil (Akron, Ohio) was nearly flawless through almost five innings, helping the Flashes hold a 3-0 lead.

March 17, 2012
Flashes Blank Coastal Carolina and Fall 1-0 to No. 24 USF
Behind the efforts of freshman Emma Johnson, the Golden Flashes blanked Coastal Carolina 3-0, before No. 24 USF pulled out a 1-0 victory against a solid performance from sophomore Danielle Abernathy

March 16, 2012
Five Opponents Await Flashes at USF Invitational
Kent State opens against Dartmouth Friday morning, immediately followed by a matchup will Colgate. On Saturday, the Flashes take on Coastal Carolina at 9 a.m., prior to a 4 p.m. game against the host Bulls. KSU closes out its tournament Sunday at 9 a.m., against Providence.

March 16, 2012
Flashes Blank Colgate in Friday Split
The Golden Flashes (10-12) fell to Dartmouth 5-0, before blanking Colgate 6-0. Jess Blanton had two hits in each game and a double in each game.

March 13, 2012
Johnson Named MAC East Pitcher of the Week
Johnson earned two victories in one day this past Friday. She came on in relief against Princeton to help give the Flashes a 9-7 extra-inning win. Immediately afterward, she got the start against Rhode Island and threw a one-hit shutout.

March 11, 2012
Flashes Finish 3-2 on Weekend Following Loss at Maryland
Kent State put 11 runners on base Sunday but could not get on the scoreboard in a 5-0 loss against tournament host Maryland to close out its three-day weekend. The Golden Flashes smacked five hits and drew five walks against Terrapin ace Kendra Knight, who improved to 11-2 on the year.

March 10, 2012
Flashes Split Pair on Day Two of Maryland Round Robin
Kent State extended its winning streak to five games with a 5-3 victory over Rhode Island Saturday, before the host Terrapins nipped the Golden Flashes 2-1 on day two of the Maryland Round Robin Tournament.

March 9, 2012
Flashes to Play Five Games in Three Days at Maryland Round Robin
Kent State set a season-high for hits in a game Sunday against Bucknell with 19, all of which came in four innings. The last time the Flashes had 19 hits in a game was in 1990, during the team’s run to the College World Series.

March 9, 2012
Flashes Run Winning Streak to Four Games, Downing Princeton and Rhode Island
Sophomore Abbey Ledford launched a key three-run homer in the eighth against the Tigers as the Golden Flashes (8-9) totaled 18 hits over 13 innings on the day.

March 4, 2012
Flashes Squash Bucknell and Top Marshall in 2-0 Day
Kent State blasted Bucknell 15-0 and topped Marshall 6-4 in a 2-0 day at the Marshall Invitational Sunday at Dot Hicks Field. The Golden Flashes (6-9) uncorked 19 hits in a five-inning run rule of the Bison and came back from a 3-0 deficit against the Thundering Herd.

March 3, 2012
IPFW Takes Advantage of Kent State Errors
IPFW’s three-run seventh made the difference in the Mastadons’ 6-3 victory over Kent State Saturday morning at Dot Hicks Field on day two of the Marshall Invitational. The Golden Flashes made five errors, including two in the seventh and one in the sixth, which led to four unearned runs.

March 2, 2012
Flashes Drop Pair On Day One of Marshall Invitational
A rough first inning against IPFW and a tricky second inning against Marshall made the difference in a pair of Kent State losses Friday at Dot Hicks Field during day one of the Marshall Invitational. The Mastadons scored 10 first-inning runs in a 14-4 victory over the Golden Flashes, while the host Thundering Herd scored all of its runs in the second in a 3-2 win.

March 1, 2012
Flashes to Play Five Games Over Three Days at Marshall Invitational
Coming off a solid 3-2 weekend, Kent State (4-6) will play five games in three days at the Marshall Invitational, beginning Friday, March 2 at Dot Hicks Field in Huntington, W.V. The Golden Flashes will take on IPFW and host Marshall on both Friday and Saturday and will play a single game Sunday against Bucknell.

February 29, 2012
Abbey Ledford Named MAC East Player of the Week
Ledford earned a spot on the Wolfpack Challenge All-Tournament Team this past weekend after hitting .571 over five games with two home runs and 10 runs batted in.

February 26, 2012
Pitt Halts Flashes' Weekend Momentum
After an impressive Saturday sweep of NC State and Georgetown, Kent State dropped a 5-2 decision to Pitt Sunday in the final day of the Wolfpack Challenge at Dail Stadium. The Golden Flashes (4-6) finished 3-2 on the weekend as sophomore Abbey Ledford (West Liberty, Ohio) and senior Jess Blanton (Wheelersburg, Ohio) were named to the all-tournament team.

February 25, 2012
Flashes Score 23 Runs in Wins Over NC State and Georgetown
The Golden Flashes (4-5) collected a season-high 15 hits in a 15-8 win over host NC State, then needed just five innings to blank Georgetown 8-0.

February 24, 2012
Flashes Top Lehigh Before Falling to NC State
Kent State had its best offensive performance of the early season in a 9-2 win over Lehigh, before falling to host NC State Friday at the Wolfpack Challenge. The Golden Flashes and Wolfpack were scoreless after three innings at Dail Stadium, before disaster struck in the fourth, when NC State scored all eight of its runs.

February 23, 2012
Flashes to Play Five Games Over Three Days at NC State
In four consecutive weekends, Kent State will head south for softball competition, beginning with NC State’s Wolfpack Challenge this week at Dail Stadium in Raleigh. The Golden Flashes (1-4) will take on Lehigh and host NC State on Friday. Kent State will get a rematch with the Wolfpack on Saturday followed by a battle with Georgetown under the lights. Sunday will mark the Flashes’ fifth and final game of the weekend against Pitt.

February 12, 2012
Oklahoma Pulls Away from Flashes in Late Innings
The Golden Flashes led 1-0 after three innings and were tied 1-1 after five. Freshman pitcher Emma Johnson allowed just one unearned run on three hits in her first five innings of work.

February 11, 2012
Kent State Bats Struggle Against Oklahoma and Minnesota
Kent State ran into a pair of top-notch pitchers Saturday at the Sportco Kickoff Classic, falling to No. 5 Oklahoma 6-0 and Minnesota 2-0 at UNLV’s Eller Media Stadium. The Golden Flashes were held to just two hits on the day.

February 10, 2012
Flashes Fall in Extra Innings After Winning Opener
Kent State split its first two games of the Sportco Kickoff Classic Friday at UNLV’s Eller Media Stadium. The Golden Flashes topped CSU Bakersfield 11-5, before dropping a 2-1 extra-inning affair against Weber State. Kent State scored 11 runs in its first two innings of the day, before going 12 straight frames without a run.

February 9, 2012
Flashes Open Season with Five Games at UNLV's Sportco Kickoff Classic
Kent State opens against CSU Bakersfield Friday followed by a tilt with Weber State. Saturday, the Flashes will be tested against No. 5 Oklahoma, and Minnesota. The Flashes and Sooners will play a rematch on Sunday

February 7, 2012
A Look at Kent State's 2012 Softball Team
With the 2012 season just around the corner, Kent State softball fans have reason to be optimistic. Welcoming the addition of five freshmen, the Golden Flashes had a strong fall season, showing consistency in all phases of the game.

February 2, 2012
Linder Signs Contract Extension Through 2016
Over the last six years, Linder has led the Flashes to five Mid-American Conference East Division titles, three MAC regular season championships, two MAC Tournament championships and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.

January 25, 2012
Softball Records Highest GPA in Team History
Fourteen Kent State softball players carried a 3.5 grade point average or better during the 2011 Fall Semester

November 28, 2011
Softball Inks Eight for 2013 Season
“This class is loaded with talent that will help in all phases of the game,” Linder said. “Offensively, there’s a great combination of speed and power and left and right-handed hitters. Defensively, we added a number of versatile athletes that can play infield or outfield.”

November 2, 2011
Linder to be Inducted into Summit County Softball Hall of Fame Saturday
Kent State Head Softball Coach Karen Linder will be inducted into the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame Saturday. A three-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, Linder will be one of 11 inductees at the 26th induction ceremony at Guy’s Party Centre.

October 19, 2011
Don Duffy Added to Softball Staff
A member of the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame, Duffy spent 23 seasons in the dugout at Tallmadge High School, including 12 years as the head coach.