Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team dropped a non-conference game to Kent State on Tuesday afternoon. The Golden Flashes took an early lead and never trailed in handing the Vikings a 10-2 defeat at Viking Field. Cleveland State is 15-20 on the season, Kent State improves to 24-18 with the victory. 

The Golden Flashes tallied their first two runs in the third inning on the strength of three base hits. A bunt single brought the first run home from third and then a double scored the second run of the inning with two outs. Kent State added another run in the third to make it a 3-0 game. 

Cleveland State scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth as Becky Hurosky smoked an RBI double to left field to bring home Melissa Holzopfel to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Golden Flashes broke the game open in the sixth, scoring five runs thanks to three base hits and three Cleveland State errors. The big hit came from Delaney Robeson as she delivered a two-run home run over the right field fence which made it 8-1 Kent State. That hit chased starter Torrie Jenkins, as Katie McDonald came on to pitch the final inning and a third for CSU. 

The Golden Flashes added two more in the seventh inning to make it 10-1 before Sophie Spellman added some late offense for the Vikings with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, her second home run of the season. The Vikings were unable to draw any closer as Kent State kept the Vikings off the scoreboard the rest of the way. 

Cleveland State returns to Viking Field on Thursday to host Youngstown State in a pivotal Horizon League series. The Vikings and Penguins will meet for a 3:00 first pitch in the series opener Thursday afternoon.