The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Softball Splits a Pair at Red and Black Classic
March 04 | Softball
March 4, 2006
Box Score
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Akron softball team split a pair of non-conference games Saturday on the opening day of the Red and Black Classic at Ullmer Stadium, defeating Wright State, 5-0, before falling to Western Kentucky, 6-1, in the nightcap.
The Zips are now 5-4 on the season and close out the two-day tournament tomorrow when they play nationally-ranked Louisville, the event host, at 1 p.m. U of L is No. 21 in the NFCA/USA Today poll and No. 22 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings.
Senior Megan MacKenzie (Delta, British Columbia/North Delta) pitched a two-hit, complete-game gem to propel the Zips to the win over WSU, which fell to 0-7 on the season after falling to the Cardinals, 10-2, later in the day.
McKenzie improved to 3-3 on the season by striking out 11 and not walking a batter. She surrendered a single in the second to Bridget Henry and a two-out double in the seventh to Amanda Cody.
Akron scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before putting the game away with three insurance tallies in the bottom of the sixth. Right fielder Cali Stratton (Liberty, Mo./Liberty), who had three of the team's nine hits, blasted a two-out, two-run homer off starter and loser Jessie Granger (0-3) after Carrese Moody plated a run with an RBI single.
Granger went six innings, yielding five earned runs, while striking out two and walking a pair.
In the second game, the Zips were in an early hole to WKU and
never recovered as Shelby Smith smacked a two-out, three-run homer
off UA starter Julie Boyes in the bottom of the first.
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The Hilltoppers (11-8) added three more runs in the third, highlighted by Sam Young's two-run single.
McKenzie replaced Boyes following Young's RBI base-hit. She surrendered an unearned run later in the inning and kept the WKU bats at bay the rest of the way, but the UA offense could not capitalize.
Freshman Jennifer Kempf (3-1) went the distance for WKU, scattering five hits and yielding an unearned run. She fanned seven and walked just one batter.
The Zips scored a run in the seventh to spoil the shutout, but left the bases loaded. Moody led the UA offensive attack with three hits, including an RBI single.
Boyes (2-1) surrendered seven hits and five earned runs, while striking out one and walking four.
