The Kent State softball team's season came to end Sunday in NCAA Regional Competition at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. After eliminating Wright State and Notre Dame Saturday The Flashes fell to fourth-seeded Michigan 5-0. The Wolverines (51-6) advance to NCAA Super Regional competition.

Michigan pitcher Jordan Taylor threw complete game one-hit shutout striking out 11 of the 22 batters she faced. Senior Gabrielle Burns took the loss. She pitched four plus innings giving up two hits, two runs and walking five.

The Flashes (46-12) held the Wolverines to two hits the entire game and trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Sophomore pitcher Kylie Reynolds, who relieved burns in the fifth inning, walked three consecutive batters to load the bases for freshman first basemen Dorian Shaw. Burns reentered the game at pitcher and served up a grand slam home run to Shaw. Reynolds and Burns walked a combined eight hitters.

Sophomore second basemen Heather Duhon got the lone hit for the Flashes, a single in the third inning. Kent State would have had to beat the Wolverines twice Sunday to advance in the double-elimination tournament.

It is really absurd how good Kent State sophomore pitcher Kylie Reynolds is at such a young age. As the Flashes head to Ann Arbor, Mich. to play Notre Dame Friday at 4:30 in the first round of the NCAA Regional play, Reynolds is already third in school history in strikeouts with 523.

Reynolds needs just 22 strikeouts to pass Kate Leary, who fanned 545 from 2001-2004, for second the school's all time list. Brittney Robinson, who pitched for the Flashes from 2004-2007, has the lead with 856 strikeouts.

Her 269 strikeouts this season set the school's single season record. If the Flashes have a successful tournament she could theoretically pass Robinson for wins in a season. Robinson recorded 31 victories on the 2006 team that won its first regional game since 1990. Reynolds has 24 wins this season.

Kent State softball coach Karen Linder does a tremendous job recruiting pitching talent. In her 12 years as head coach Linder has coached Leary, Robinson and Reynolds. Reynolds is now a two time Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the year. Reynolds won the award the season before that.

It would not be a surprise of any kind if Reynolds breaks nearly every pitching record at the University by the time she is done. She is already close to most of them and still has two years left to throw.

When I talked to Linder earlier this year she informed me that senior Gabe Burns could also win the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year award. Burns actually has a lower ERA, at 1.09 than Reynolds doe at 1.23; Reynolds has pitched nearly 30 more innings. Burns also struck out 216 batters this year. How is that for pitching depth?

Hitting gets it done too…

While the pitching continues to get the accolades the offense is more than ready for a run at regionals as well. The Flashes have outscored their opponents 221-79 this season.

Seniors Jamie Fitzpatrick (36) and Jess Toocheck (29) sit a top the Kent State all-time leaders in home runs. Fitzpatrick was already the leader before hitting eight more home runs this season. Toocheck added 11 home runs this season to move into second place. Senior Kim Hamilton moved into a tie for third with 26 home runs. Denae Jones, who played from 1997-2000 also had 26.

Freshman Jess Carmichael, who led Dalton to back-to-back State championships in high school, may eventually join the list. She hit eight home runs this year while hitting .272 in her first year.

Linder's teams have continued to show improvement throughout her 12 years here. In all aspects of the game the Kent State teams have become more talented and competitive. It all adds up to what appears to be another fun ride in NCAA Regional competition.

Sophomore softball pitcher Kylie Reynolds knows a thing or two about winning awards. As a freshman, the Georgia Native picked up Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. She is already fourth on the Kent State all-time strikeout list with 449 strikeouts. IN JUST UNDER TWO SEASONS.

So what did she do this week? How about won her fourth MAC Pitcher of the Week honor of the season. Reynolds is now 8-0 with a .50 ERA in eight MAC starts. She is 14-2 overall with a 1.14 ERA.

It is safe to say Reynolds is well on her way to rewriting the Kent State softball record books.

All the Kent State softball team needed Sunday was three runs to beat rival Miami. They all came on just one fourth-inning swing of the bat. Freshman designated hitter Jess Carmichael, a Dalton graduate, hit her fifth home run of the season Sunday.

The three-run shot to left field gave the Flashes a 3-2 win and its 30th victory of the season. It is now the third straight year the Flashes have won 30 games or more.

The game also featured another strong pitching performance by sophomore pitcher Kylie Reynolds, last year's Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year. Reynolds (16-4) pitched a complete game, giving up no earned runs and striking out 11.

She now has 192 strikeouts and, as of April 15, leads the MAC in strikeouts. Teammate Gabe Burns (currently 150) was second in the conference.

A random softball note:

Although baseball and softball are rooted the same, the games can still be very different. Softball often times offers a much quicker pace and differing strategies. One obvious strategy that is used more is slap hitting. One could argue that Kent State sophomore outfielder Lauren Brocklehurst has mastered the art of the slap hit.

Brocklehurst is currently hitting .345 on the season with 30 hits in 87 at bats. All 30 of those hits have been singles giving her a .345 slugging percentage. She is yet to record an RBI this season.