The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Battle Back to Belt Bowling Green, 15-4 in Game Two
May 15 | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Akron Zips overcame a two-run deficit in a big way, retaliating from a 2-0 hole in the first inning to outscore MAC East Division leading Bowling Green, 15-4 in game two at Steller Field this afternoon. The win keeps the Zips' postseason hopes alive as the eighth and final spot into the Mid-American Conference Tournament remains at-large, pending teams' outcomes over the weekend.
The Zips move up to 19-32
overall and 12-14 in the MAC while Bowling Green drops to 27-20 and
17-8 in the conference with today's loss.
UA freshman Alex Loftin (2-2) was lights out for the Zips as he earned today's win in eight strong innings on the hill. Loftin surrendered just three earned runs on six scattered hits while tallying a career-high seven strikeouts to record the win. BG's Matt Malewitz (5-2) suffered the loss in just three innings and two thirds after allowing eight earned runs on five hits with five free passes on the afternoon.
Senior Matt Roberts launched his ninth home run on a 2-for-4 day with a team-high four RBIs and three runs scored this afternoon while junior designated hitter Kyle Hallett also went yard with his second dinger on the season, adding three RBIs and scoring twice on the day.
BG took the early 2-0 lead
in the bottom of the first after the lead off runner walked then
came around to score on a two-run blast to left field put the
Falcons ahead but it wouldn't last long.
The Zips would respond in the top of the second with a blast of
their own as Roberts smashed a three-run shot for the UA lead.
Senior Ryan Frazee walked to open the frame before
senior Phil Bednar singled sharply up the middle to put
runners on first and second with a pair of outs for Akron. Roberts
wasted little in his at-bat, driving the first pitch he saw over
the wall in left center to give Akron the 3-2 advantage which they
would only add to today.
Bowling Green tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third on a RBI-sacrifice fly to right but would be held scoreless by Loftin across the next five frames of the contest.
The Zips broke out the bats in a big way atop the fourth, rattling off six runs on four hits. Senior Brett Savage reached on a nine-pitch walk before Bednar drove a two-out single through the left side. Roberts hit a rocket up the middle for a RBI-single, scoring Savage while Bednar advanced to second. Junior Kevin Haas kept the rally alive with a walk of his own to load the bases before junior right fielder Jake Plata smashed a two-RBI single to right for the third UA run of the frame as righty Ross Gerdeman replaced Malewitz on the mound. With a pair on, Hallett launched a three-run shot over the wall in left for the final three runs in the frame, putting Akron ahead 9-3.
After Loftin held the Falcons scoreless across the fourth and fifth innings, Akron got back to work in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on four hits with Roberts leading things off with a walk. Haas followed with his team leading 15th double on the season, driving a two-bagger to right center which advanced Roberts to third before a fielding error enabled him to score on the play. Plata hit a sharp liner to center for the first UA out of the inning while Hallett picked up a walk to put a pair on for the Zips. Junior first baseman Brian Kordal, who narrowly missed hitting a home run in the first inning notched a RBI-single with a shot to right field which induced a BG pitching change with Marty Baird taking the hill for Gerdman. Frazee launched a double to right field, scoring Hallett before Savage walked to load the bases. With one still away, Turk missed a grand slam by inches as the ball dropped in off the top of the wall for a two-RBI single. Turk was called out on the play as he ran past Savage who was heading to second, ending the Zips' offensive outpouring with the Zips ahead, 14-3.
Akron added their final run atop the eighth when Kordal, who finished the day 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored, singled sharply up the middle. Frazee walked then Savage drove Kordal in with a well placed single to left field.
Redshirt freshman Scott Foster took the hill for Akron in relief of Loftin in the ninth and allowed one earned run on a pair of hits before shutting the Falcons down.
Akron out-hit Bowling Green 13-8 and committed no errors while the
Falcons had three this afternoon.
The Zips and Falcons return to action in tomorrow's rubber match,
Saturday, May 16 with first pitch slated for 1 pm at Steller Field.
The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio 1350 AM with live stats
available online at www.GoZips.com.
