The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Upended by Huskies, 8-3
March 30 | Baseball
Northern Illinois scored seven times in the first four innings
en route to an 8-3 defeat of the Zips in the first of a three-game
series at Lee Jackson Field Friday afternoon. The loss drops Akron
to 11-7 overall and 1-3 in the Mid-American Conference.
Huskies starter Trevor Feeney went the distance while improving to
3-2 on the year. The right-hander struck out three, walked none and
allowed just seven hits in the 115-pitch effort. Akron starter
Billy McKinney (Lovelamd,
Ohio/Kings) fell to 1-2 on the season.
Charlie Lenhard (Columbus,
Ohio/Upper Arlington) provided the lone highlight for the Zips with
a two-run homer in the sixth. Freshman
Kevin Haas (North Olmstead,
Ohio/St. Ignatius) was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of singles
and a walk.
Akron took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a pair of base hits
and two wild pitches that plated
Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls,
Ohio/Stow/Ball State University), who singled to lead off the
frame.
Northern Illinois (13-8, 4-0) came back with four runs in the third
and three runs in the fourth - highlighted by a bases-loaded double
by Marc Besteman - to jump out to a commanding 7-1 lead.
The Huskies added another run in the sixth on a single to right
field by Matt Behren that scored Danny Reed, who led off the inning
with a double.
Kurt Davidson (North
Canton, Ohio/Hoover) led off the Zips' sixth with his second single
of the game and came around to score on Lenhard's second homer of
the season, a blast that cleared the wall in left-center field and
cut the NIU lead to 8-3.
The Zips and Huskies will play the second game of their series
Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at Lee Jackson Field.
