The University of Akron Athletics
Softball Set To Open League Home Schedule
April 02 | Softball
- The University of Akron softball team (18-13, 1-3 MAC) opens
its Mid-American Conference home schedule this weekend (April 3-5)
welcoming Central Michigan for a Friday doubleheader (1:00 p.m.)
and will wrap up the tour of Michigan Saturday (2:00 p.m.) and
Sunday (1:00 p.m.) when they take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles at
Lee R. Jackson Field.
MEDIA INFORMATION
• Live stats for all four match-ups will be available here.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Stolen bases are a big part of the Zips regime as they lead
the league with an astounding 78 (2.52 SB/G) and moved up one spot
to seventh on the national list (as of March 31).
• Lisa McLean leads the Zips and is also seventh on
the national list in stolen bases stealing 26-of-27 (.84 SB/G),
fellow senior Amber Lowe is 19th with .68 (SB/G) and 17 on the
year.
• Sophomore pitcher Heather Bauer's six shutouts rank 19th on
the national list.
TEAM NOTES
• First in the conference in team batting and pitching, Akron
boasts a league-high .285 batting average through March 31 and a
league-low 2.09 earned run average on the mound.
• In the circle Akron has relied upon Bauer and freshman Andrea
Arney. Both are ranked in the top-10 in the league in ERA.
Bauer grabs the second spot holding a 1.72 ERA and Arney is fifth
posting a 2.09 on the mound.
• Defensively Akron is posting .969 in fielding percentage,
second in the league behind only Western Michigan (.971).
• Extra inning games have fared well for the Zips, as they are
2-0 thus far. Both eight-inning games came at the Rebel Spring
Games in back-to-back contests versus Wisconsin-Green Bay (3-0,
March 17) and Rider (7-6, March 18).
PLAYER NOTES
• First hits of the season were picked up last weekend against
Western Michigan (March 28) by freshman Felicia
Houtz and Bauer. Houtz broke up a no-hitter in the first
contest and Bauer was in the batting order for the first time this
season in the second game going 2-for-3 with one stolen base.
• Julie Boyes' six home runs are tied for second in
the MAC. First place leader, Ball State's Jen Reifschneide, is
first with seven.
• McLean leads the Zips and is first in the MAC in stolen
bases stealing 26-of-27 (.84 SB/G); Lowe is second with .68 (SB/G)
and 17 on the year. Sophomore Sarah
Earley is fourth on the league list with 10 (.32 SB/G), (as of
March 31).
• Also first and second in the conference in hits and runs
scored, McLean leads all MAC players in hits with 35 (1.13 H/G) and
is second in runs scored with 21 (.68 RS/G) through March 31.
• Bauer is tied for first in the league in shutouts and second
in wins with 10.
• Arney leads the MAC in games started with 17 and is third
in innings pitched recording 108.2.
• Known for speed as a team, senior Jaci
Brindus and freshman Alex Helfrich have been key in some pinch
running situations. Combined they have 12 stolen bases and have
scored nine runs on the year.
• Taking time out of the hitting line-up due to broken wrist,
Lowe is still able to run bases and expected back in the line-up by
the end of the season.
OPPONENTS AT-A-GLANCE
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Game Time: April 3, 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Conference: Mid-American
2009 Record: 7-15, 1-3 MAC
Notes: The Chippewas went 1-3 in the opening round
of league play ... they faced non-league opponent Oakland for a
mid-week (April 1) doubleheader before traveling to Akron ... in
strictly league play, CMU's Ali Pettit leads the league in innings
pitched (24.2), games started (3) and complete games (3) ... the
Zips went 1-1 last season at Central Michigan.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Game Time: April 4 & 5, 2:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m.
(EST)
Conference: Mid-American
2009 Record: 13-18, 1-3 MAC
Notes: The Eagles went 1-3 in the opening weekend
of MAC play ... EMU faced IPFW for a mid-week contest (April 1) and
will see Ohio in a Friday doubleheader (April 3) before traveling
to face the Zips ... Eastern's Jenny Scherer is first in the league
in RBI while the Eagles McKenna Russ is third in the league in
doubles ... the Zips went 1-1 last season at Eastern Michigan.
