The University of Akron Athletics
Bobcats, Zips Split MAC Twinbill
April 14 | Baseball
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
AKRON (April 14) — Akron erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth and beat Ohio, 11-7, in Game #2 of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Lee Jackson Field. The Bobcats won Game #1, 2-1, behind a five-hit pitching gem by Chuck Lombardy.
The Zips snapped a six-game slide and raised their record to 6-21, 2-9 in the MAC. Ohio stands at 17-15, 4-7 in the MAC. The two teams meet again tomorrow at 1 o’clock.
Freshman second baseman Brady Steineck (Canton Central Catholic) doubled and scored and then singled home two more runs during that fifth-inning explosion. The Zips sent 13 men to the plate and laced eight hits during the frame to go on top 10-3.
Ohio answered with three runs in the top of the sixth to cut the
deficit to 10-6. Freshman southpaw Aaron Gangi (Ashland), who
picked up his first win (1-4), fanned left fielder Andy Parks with
runners at second and third to end the sixth.
|
|
Sophomore Dan Swallie (Dublin/Barnesville) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for the Zips, but fell into trouble in the eighth. Ohio center fielder Andrew See doubled home second baseman Ryan Kyes to make it 10-7. Swallie then walked Lombardy to bring the potential tying run to the plate. The burly right-hander from Dublin, Ohio, then reached back and struck out pinch hitter Cory Keylor to end the threat. The Zips added an insurance run in their half of the eighth and Swallie closed the door in the ninth to register his first save.
Junior left fielder Lou Pederi (Aurora) is having a huge series at the plate for the Zips. He is 7-of-12 with four RBI and three runs scored. Senior catcher Sean Manfredonia (Independence) also supplied some power in Game #2 with a double, a triple, two RBI and two runs scored.
Junior RHP Ben McCauley (2-4) was the hard luck loser in Game #1 as Ohio plated two runs in the first inning and Lombardy made it stand up. Steineck singled home Akron’s lone run in the seventh. Lombardy ran his record to 2-1. Ohio’s Walt Novosel (1-5) took the loss in Game #2.
