The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Falls 10-5 On Eight Unearned Runs To WVU
May 16 | Baseball
May 16, 2006
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The University of Akron baseball team (15-33) allowed six runs in the first two innings, all unearned, which allowed West Virginia University (34-18) to cruise to the 10-5 victory on Tuesday evening at Hawley Field.
In the first inning, the Mountaineers loaded the bases on a walk, a error by Ryan Frazee (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville) and a single. Zips starter Tom Farmer (Berea, Ohio/Berea) was able to strike out the next two batters and then worked Casey Bowling to a 3-2 count. Farmer falls to 2-9 on the season, despite not allowing an earned run and recording three strike outs in his one inning of work.
Bowling was just to get enough of the pay-off pitch to hit a bloop-triple to the opposite field, clearing the bases. Farmer closed the inning without allowing another run by recording his third swinging strike out.
In the top of the second, Akron looked to answer West Virginia as the Zips loaded the bases with one out on singles by Charlie Lenhard (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Vince Chiera (Akron, Ohio/Walsh), but could not push a runner across the plate.
West Virginia would post three more unearned runs in the third on two hits and Akron's second error in as many innings off Garrett Knoll (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst Steele). All three runs crossed the plate on a two-out, three-run home run by Stan Posluszny.
Trailing 6-0 in the top of the fifth, the Zips cut the deficit
in half as Scott Gunn (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) hit a
three-run home run to right field, scoring Brian Kimutis
(Washington, Pa./Trinity) and Frazee. The home run was his fifth of
the season.
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In the sixth inning, Akron continued to close in on the Mountaineers as Kimutis drove in two runs on a two-out double down the left field line chasing starter Trent Ridgley from the game and pulling the Zips within a run at 6-5.
However, West Virginia stretched the lead out to 10-5 with four runs in the sixth on two hits and another error. Two more unearned runs scored in the inning off Jeremy Goldizen (Perry, Ohio/Perry), who walked three and committed a two-run throwing error on a sacrifice bunt before the Mountaineers could record a hit in the frame.
In the ninth, Frazee led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, but the Zips could not manage a late inning rally. The home run was his fifth of the season.
The Zips will play their last non-conference game on Wednesday at Cleveland State at 3 p.m. (EDT). Akron will then close out its regular-season schedule with its final Mid-American Conference series when Miami (Ohio) comes to Lee Jackson Field. The three-game set will start on Thursday at 3 p.m.
