The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Outslug Kent State, 8-6
May 12 | Baseball
AKRON, Ohio – Doug McNulty tripled home the winning runs in the
seventh and Billy McKinney nearly went the distance to lead
the University of Akron baseball team to an 8-6 victory over Kent
State Saturday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the score tied at 6, McNulty (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center) drove a liner into the left-field corner to plate Brett Savage (Massillon, Ohio/Perry), who singled to lead off the inning, and Kurt Davidson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), who drew a one-out walk, to snap a three-game losing streak for the Zips (21-21, 7-13 Mid-American Conference). McKinney (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) used 138 pitches and struck out seven and was one out shy of his second complete-game victory of the season.
Sophomore Ryne Romick (Hannibal, Ohio/Hannibal River) struck out designated hitter Greg Rohan on three pitches with runners on first and second to end the game and post his fourth save of the campaign. It was also a big day for UA sophomore Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls, Ohio/Stow/Ball State University), who homered and drove in three.
KSU's Dominique Rodgers (4-5) took the loss for the Golden Flashes, who fell to 25-24, 15-8 and saw their nine-game MAC winning streak come to a close.
Kent State jumped on top first with a run in the opening frame after an RBI-double by Anthony Gallas, but the Zips tied things up in the home half.
Savage led off the frame drew a walk and checked into third base on a double to left-center field. The next batter, Kurt Davidson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) scored Savage with a ground ball to the second baseman.
John Turk (Kirtland, Ohio/Kirtland) led off the following frame with a single and came around to score on Bednar's second homer of the season – a drive that sailed well over the fence in left field and gave the Zips a 3-1 lead.
The see-saw match continued in the third inning as Kent State plated three runs, two coming on a double by Andrew Davis, that put the Golden Flashes back on top, 4-3.
The Zips battled back again in the fourth inning as a sacrifice fly by Kevin Haas (North Olmstead, Ohio/St. Ignatius) knotted things up and a single back up the middle by Bednar gave UA a 5-4 advantage.
McKinney got some help from his defense to kill a Kent State rally in the fifth. After a one-out single and walk put runners on first and second, third baseman Vince Chiera (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) fielded a sharply-hit grounder, stepped on third and flipped the ball to first baseman McNulty, who came off the bag to apply the tag and complete the inning-ending double play.
The Zips made it 5-3 and chased KSU starter Kyle Smith in the home half when McNulty singled home Charlie Lenhard (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), who doubled with two outs. That's how the score remained until a two-out, two-run homer by Gallas tied the game for the third time in the seventh.
Savage singled up the middle to lead off the decisive seventh inning for Akron with the score tied at 6. After a sacrifice bunt by Gunn, Davidson walked to put runners on first and second to set up McNulty's heroic three-bagger.
Akron and Kent State will conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Lee Jackson Field.
ZIPS NOTEBOOK: Right fielder Scott Gunn (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) made the defensive play of the game with a full-extension diving grab of a tailing liner off the bat of Will Vazquez in the second inning ... the Zips' lead-off batter reached in each of the first three innings and scored twice ... four of Kent State's first six runs were scored with two outs ... McKinney's seven strikeouts matched a season high.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the score tied at 6, McNulty (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center) drove a liner into the left-field corner to plate Brett Savage (Massillon, Ohio/Perry), who singled to lead off the inning, and Kurt Davidson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), who drew a one-out walk, to snap a three-game losing streak for the Zips (21-21, 7-13 Mid-American Conference). McKinney (Loveland, Ohio/Kings) used 138 pitches and struck out seven and was one out shy of his second complete-game victory of the season.
Sophomore Ryne Romick (Hannibal, Ohio/Hannibal River) struck out designated hitter Greg Rohan on three pitches with runners on first and second to end the game and post his fourth save of the campaign. It was also a big day for UA sophomore Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls, Ohio/Stow/Ball State University), who homered and drove in three.
KSU's Dominique Rodgers (4-5) took the loss for the Golden Flashes, who fell to 25-24, 15-8 and saw their nine-game MAC winning streak come to a close.
Kent State jumped on top first with a run in the opening frame after an RBI-double by Anthony Gallas, but the Zips tied things up in the home half.
Savage led off the frame drew a walk and checked into third base on a double to left-center field. The next batter, Kurt Davidson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) scored Savage with a ground ball to the second baseman.
John Turk (Kirtland, Ohio/Kirtland) led off the following frame with a single and came around to score on Bednar's second homer of the season – a drive that sailed well over the fence in left field and gave the Zips a 3-1 lead.
The see-saw match continued in the third inning as Kent State plated three runs, two coming on a double by Andrew Davis, that put the Golden Flashes back on top, 4-3.
The Zips battled back again in the fourth inning as a sacrifice fly by Kevin Haas (North Olmstead, Ohio/St. Ignatius) knotted things up and a single back up the middle by Bednar gave UA a 5-4 advantage.
McKinney got some help from his defense to kill a Kent State rally in the fifth. After a one-out single and walk put runners on first and second, third baseman Vince Chiera (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) fielded a sharply-hit grounder, stepped on third and flipped the ball to first baseman McNulty, who came off the bag to apply the tag and complete the inning-ending double play.
The Zips made it 5-3 and chased KSU starter Kyle Smith in the home half when McNulty singled home Charlie Lenhard (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), who doubled with two outs. That's how the score remained until a two-out, two-run homer by Gallas tied the game for the third time in the seventh.
Savage singled up the middle to lead off the decisive seventh inning for Akron with the score tied at 6. After a sacrifice bunt by Gunn, Davidson walked to put runners on first and second to set up McNulty's heroic three-bagger.
Akron and Kent State will conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Lee Jackson Field.
ZIPS NOTEBOOK: Right fielder Scott Gunn (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) made the defensive play of the game with a full-extension diving grab of a tailing liner off the bat of Will Vazquez in the second inning ... the Zips' lead-off batter reached in each of the first three innings and scored twice ... four of Kent State's first six runs were scored with two outs ... McKinney's seven strikeouts matched a season high.
Players Mentioned
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