The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, March 24
Akron, Ohio
2 PM
University of Akron
1-21-1, 0
5
vs
13
University of Toledo
15-12, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Toledo
1
0
0
0
4
7
1
13
14
3
Akron
0
3
0
0
0
2
0
5
7
4
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
Toledo Takes Two From Akron In 2018 MAC Opener
March 24 | Softball
Follow Akron Softball on Facebook and Twitter
Follow Coach Jones on Twitter
Game One: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Photo Gallery | Video Highlights
AKRON, Ohio – Saturday, March 24, marked the start of the 2018 Mid-American Conference season for the Akron softball team and the 2018 home opener, but after taking an early 3-1 lead, late offense by Toledo earned the Rockets a 13-5 game one win and a 15-1 win in game two over Akron as the UT offensive momentum carried over in the twinbill at Lee Jackson Field.
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Errors were the big story on the day for Akron recording six on the afternoon combined between the two games which led to six unearned runs.
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Toledo got out to an early lead in the first inning against Akron in game one to claim a 1-0 advantage.
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After the Zips were set down in four batters in their first at-bats, Akron was able to strike in the second and counter the Rockets early run. With runners on first and second and two outs, freshman Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio) entered the game as a pinch-hitter. Wulf sent a ground ball to the Toledo shortstop who attempted to make a play at the plate as senior Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) headed for home. Gambone retreated to third as the Rockets catcher caught the ball but in an attempt to get Gambone out. The Rockets catcher proceded to throw the ball into left field which allowed Gambone and junior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.) to score.
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Akron added a third run to the scoreboard in the inning after an error by the Rockets shortstop allowed senior Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio) to reach safely and junior Sabria Bruton (Palmetto, Fla.) to score.
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The contest was dominated inside the circle in the third and fourth inning by Akron's Kayla Kmett (San Clemente, Calif.) and Toledo's Heather Webb allowing no runs to score and just two hits combined.
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The Rockets took control of the game in the final three innings scoring 12 of its 13 runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning, including a game-high seven runs in the sixth.
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Akron added two more runs to its score in the sixth inning when redshirt junior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nevada) smacked a two-run homerun, her second of the season.
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In the contest, the Akron offense was led by Jasoce going 2-for-3 with a walk, while Gillespie, Gambone, Crews, Rodriguez, and junior Maddy Clowdus (Eastvale, Calif.) all recorded a hit in the ballgame. The Zips also drew three walks and left four runners on base.
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Kmett made her eighth start of the season and pitched one her finest outings of the year. Despite giving up 13 hits and 12 total runs, only seven of the runs were earned. Kmett also set a new career-best six strikeouts in the contest surpassing her previous total of four.
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Game two of the afternoon was all Toledo scoring 15 runs in five innings beating the Zips, 15-1, in a shortened game due to the NCAA run rule.Â
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Akron returns to action tomorrow, March 25, to close out the three-game series with Toledo. First pitch between the Zips and Rockets is slated for 1 p.m.
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Follow Coach Jones on Twitter
Game One: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Photo Gallery | Video Highlights
AKRON, Ohio – Saturday, March 24, marked the start of the 2018 Mid-American Conference season for the Akron softball team and the 2018 home opener, but after taking an early 3-1 lead, late offense by Toledo earned the Rockets a 13-5 game one win and a 15-1 win in game two over Akron as the UT offensive momentum carried over in the twinbill at Lee Jackson Field.
Â
Errors were the big story on the day for Akron recording six on the afternoon combined between the two games which led to six unearned runs.
Â
Toledo got out to an early lead in the first inning against Akron in game one to claim a 1-0 advantage.
Â
After the Zips were set down in four batters in their first at-bats, Akron was able to strike in the second and counter the Rockets early run. With runners on first and second and two outs, freshman Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio) entered the game as a pinch-hitter. Wulf sent a ground ball to the Toledo shortstop who attempted to make a play at the plate as senior Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) headed for home. Gambone retreated to third as the Rockets catcher caught the ball but in an attempt to get Gambone out. The Rockets catcher proceded to throw the ball into left field which allowed Gambone and junior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.) to score.
Â
Akron added a third run to the scoreboard in the inning after an error by the Rockets shortstop allowed senior Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio) to reach safely and junior Sabria Bruton (Palmetto, Fla.) to score.
Â
The contest was dominated inside the circle in the third and fourth inning by Akron's Kayla Kmett (San Clemente, Calif.) and Toledo's Heather Webb allowing no runs to score and just two hits combined.
Â
The Rockets took control of the game in the final three innings scoring 12 of its 13 runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning, including a game-high seven runs in the sixth.
Â
Akron added two more runs to its score in the sixth inning when redshirt junior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nevada) smacked a two-run homerun, her second of the season.
Â
In the contest, the Akron offense was led by Jasoce going 2-for-3 with a walk, while Gillespie, Gambone, Crews, Rodriguez, and junior Maddy Clowdus (Eastvale, Calif.) all recorded a hit in the ballgame. The Zips also drew three walks and left four runners on base.
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Kmett made her eighth start of the season and pitched one her finest outings of the year. Despite giving up 13 hits and 12 total runs, only seven of the runs were earned. Kmett also set a new career-best six strikeouts in the contest surpassing her previous total of four.
Â
Game two of the afternoon was all Toledo scoring 15 runs in five innings beating the Zips, 15-1, in a shortened game due to the NCAA run rule.Â
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Akron returns to action tomorrow, March 25, to close out the three-game series with Toledo. First pitch between the Zips and Rockets is slated for 1 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WEBB, Heather (9-5)
L: Kmett, Kayla (0-7)
Batting:
2B: COZY, Katie 1 ; CHOATE, Megan 1
3B: COZY, Katie 1
RBI: CURRY, Bailey 1 ; COZY, Katie 4 ; YENRICK, Bekah 1 ; RAUSCH, Ashley 1 ; BERGMAN, Kaitlyn 2
Base Running:
RUNS: NORWOOD, Kylie 2 ; ILL, Ami 2 ; SHOWALTER, Sam 1 ; WEEKLY, Taylor 1 ; COZY, Katie 1 ; NYREN, Raelyn 1 ; RAUSCH, Ashley 2 ; GOLDEN, Samantha 1 ; BERGMAN, Kaitlyn 1 ; CHOATE, Megan 1
SB: NORWOOD, Kylie 1 ; ILL, Ami 1
CS: RAUSCH, Ashley 1
HBP: NORWOOD, Kylie 1 ; NYREN, Raelyn 1
Batting:
2B: Clowdus, Maddy 1
HR: Rodriguez, Kimberly 1
RBI: Rodriguez, Kimberly 2
SH: Lakins, Laura 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lakins, Laura 1 ; Rodriguez, Kimberly 1 ; Gambone, Caitlin 1 ; Crews, Jordan 1 ; Bruton, Sabria 1
SB: Jascoe, Sydney 1 ; Gillespie, Cassie 1
CS: Jascoe, Sydney 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
2b/dh
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/INF
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