KENT, Ohio - After taking an early 2-0 lead, WMU softball allowed seven runs in the bottom of the second en route to an 8-2 loss at Kent State on Sunday afternoon.

WMU's two runs came on three hits in the opening frame.  Melissa Palmer led off the game with a base hit and advanced to second on Christina Pigozzi's sacrifice bunt.  Diana Patterson followed with a one-out walk.  Loren Nagy hit her seventh double of the season to score Palmer.  After Kent State made a change in the circle Caty Pixley ripped a single to plate Patterson.

Westen Michigan would manage only four hits the rest of the way after giving up seven runs on five hits in the home half of the second inning as the Golden Flashes took a commanding 7-2 lead into the third.

WMU put to runners on base in the fifth when Jenny Rohn collected her second hit of the day, a single to center field and pinch hitter Elisha Handshoe was hit by a pitch.  Rohn would collect a third hit (3-for-3) with another single to center field.  Palmer also had a multi-hit day on Sunday with a second hit coming in the seventh, a one-out bunt single.

KSU added an eighth and final run in the bottom of the sixth.  WMU was outhit in the game, 9-7 but also committed three errors, resulting in two unearned runs.

Western Michigan returns to Fran Ebert Field on Friday with a doubleheader against Ohio followed by a two-game set against Akron on Saturday and Sunday.