The Kent State Tuscarawas softball team closed out their 2019 season with a doubleheader road loss at Edison State on Monday night. The Chargers took the first game 8-0 and won the nightcap 11-3, both in five innings.

The Golden Eagles could only manage two hits, both singles, in the first game as the hosts scored four times in each of the second and third innings for the win. The Navy and Gold stranded eight runners on base.

In the second game, Laken Ward put the Eagles ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning on her first-ever homerun. Ward swatted a fly ball to left-center field which hit the top of the six-foot high fence and bounced over as she rounded the bases. The ecstatic first-year player was mobbed at home plate by her teammates.

Edison came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to grab a short lived 2-1 lead before the Golden Eagles went to work again. Madison Garrett was hit by a pitch and Micaiah Stemple walked to put runners at first and second. A Sabrina Smith single brought home Stemple and moved Garrett to second. Makenzie Moner then singled home Garrett, before the side was retired with two Eagles left on base and the visitors leading 3-2.

The Chargers erupted for six runs in the home half of the third to grab the lead back at 8-3. They strung together four hits and a runner stole home to account for the bulk of the runs. Edison would add two more runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings for insurance and the final margin of 11-3, as they retired the Golden Eagles in order over the final two frames.

The Golden Eagles ended their season without a win, but showed vast improvement over the season.

Laken Ward is congratulated at home plate by Sabrina Smith.                       Laken even tried wearing her glove as a rally hat!