AKRON, Ohio -- Ohio opened a 4-1 lead after two innings, but gave up four runs in the third as Kent State elimiated the Bobcats from the 2004 Mid-American Conference Championship Friday by a 6-5 count.

“I’m really proud of the team today, head coach Roanna Brazier said. “They played with a lot of heart and it’s unfortunate that they came up short in the end.”

Kent State (27-19) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Rachel Testa singled through the right side to score Marcy Riddenbaugh.

Ohio (20-31) responded, tying the game in the bottom half of the inning, as sophomore Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls) singled to right field with the bases loaded and one out to score senior Kiersten Scrima (Olympia, Wash.). The Bobcats looked take the lead on the play, but senior Sarah Melvin (Loveland) was tagged out at the plate for the second out. Sophomore Shannon Weidner (Canal Winchester) lined out to the pitcher to end the inning.

Melvin would put Ohio ahead in the second as she singled to right center to score freshman Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek) from second. The Bobcats would catch a break one batter later, as a groundball hit by junior Jennifer Tisevich (Canton) to the shortstop went between her legs, allowing freshman Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) and Melvin to score.

The Golden Flashes took the lead in the third, scoring four runs on five hits and one error. Testa drove in the first two runs of the inning - her second and third RBI’s of the day - on a double to right field that scored Riddenbaugh and Kelly Maehl. Tracie Logar scored the third run of the inning when she reached home on an error by Melvin. Jodi Stevens singled to right field to score Brittany Robinson for the final Kent State run of the frame.

The score would remain 5-4 in favor of the Golden Flashes until Kent State added an insurance run in the seventh, as Testa tripled to center field and later scored on a single by Robinson.

Ohio looked to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Tisevich singled to left field to start the inning and later scored on an error by the third baseman. That would be as close as the Bobcats would get, as Logar got sophomore Emily Futscher (Cincinnati) to ground out to end the game.

Freshman Katlyn Mallette (Taunton, Mass.) got the start and went three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Classmate Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) went the final three innings, surrendering one run on four hits and two walks. She fanned two batters.