The University of Akron Athletics
Softball Battles but Falls 3-2 to Kent State
April 11 | Softball
KENT, Ohio – The University of Akron
softball team (23-14, 6-4 MAC) battled Saturday afternoon but fell
3-2 to rival Kent State. Freshman Andrea Arney (12-9) took the loss for the Zips
giving up just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out
five.
The Golden Flashes struck first in the contest putting one on the
board in the first inning after they took advantage of an Akron
error. Arney (Dalton, Ohio/Dalton) started the contest with a
strikeout but two singles and a Zips error scored KSU's first run
(0-1).
Akron threatened to score in the third inning after they loaded the
bases starting when sophomore Sarah Earley (Venetia, Penn./Peters Township)
laid down a single. An attempted sacrifice bunt by senior Lisa McLean (Canton, Ohio/Perry) pushed runners
to second and third, as McLean was safe off a throwing error by
KSU. Freshman Allison Dorr (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) loaded
the bases after she was hit by a pitch bringing senior Julie Boyes (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) to the plate.
Boyes battled but a ground out to the KSU shortstop kept the
Flashes up 1-0.
Kent State added another in the third inning after a triple to
center field drove in the runner at first placed there on a
walk.
Down 2-0, the top of the fifth inning was a repeat of the Zips
third, however, this time the Zips took advantage of KSU mistakes.
The action started when Earley reached base when she was hit by a
pitch. Another attempted sacrifice bunt by McLean would again put
her safely at first advancing Earley to third off an error by the
KSU second baseman. Earley would score after Dorr flied out to
right field and a bad throw by the KSU center fielder pushed McLean
to third allowing Earley to come home (1-2).
In sixth inning with no outs and a 3-2 count, sophomore Alex Feltes (Rocky River, Ohio/Magnificat) kept
Akron in the game when she knocked her second home run of the year
over the center field fence to even the score 2-2.
A close one until the end, KSU would load the bases in the top of
the seventh off of two singles and a walk and a base hit by current
Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, Ashlee Hein, would be
all the Golden Flashes needed as they grabbed the 3-2 victory.
Two-time league Pitcher of the Year Kylie Reynolds grabbed the win
for KSU giving up one earned run on four hits while striking out
four. Kent State left 10 base runners on in the contest including
at least one in six of the seven innings.
Akron and Kent State will battle again on Sunday with the first
pitch set for 1:00 p.m. Live scoring will be available here
