The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Trumps No. 26 Kent State in Third Annual Diamond Classic For Kids
May 06 | Baseball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team trumped No. 26 Kent State in dominant fashion, topping the Golden Flashes 12-5 in the third annual Diamond Classic for Kids at Canal Park this evening. This year's event was another slugfest as both teams combined for 25 hits, including six home runs, exceeding last year's tally of five round-trippers in the goodwill affair which benefits the Akron Children's Hospital.
The non-conference win improves Akron's record to 16-30 overall (9-12 MAC) as Kent drops to 35-12 (14-6 MAC) with the loss. Akron now enters this weekend's Mid-American Conference match-up against the Golden Flashes with a two-game winning streak.
Redshirt freshman Danny Fawcett (2-0) recorded today's win out of the bullpen for the Zips, allowing a pair of earned runs on three hits while tallying a strikeout. Robert Sabo (3-1) was saddled with the loss also working out of the bullpen in two innings. Sabo gave up three earned runs and one hit in addition to issuing three walks and registering three strikeouts on the mound.
Senior Brett Savage led the Zips at the plate, going 2-for-4, providing majority of Akron's run support on his fourth home run of the season and first career grand slam for four RBIs on the day. Savage also scored twice and registered a walk today. Senior outfielder Matt Roberts also went yard with his seventh home run on the year on a 2-for-4 day at the plate in addition to tallying his 12th double this season also adding a RBI.
Kent State opened the third annual Diamond Classic For Kids with a bang, plating a pair of runs to open the first inning with one run coming courtesy of the long ball as Jimmy Rider sent a solo shot over the wall in left for the first run of the game. Kent would manufacture the second run after the second batter bunted for a single then stole second and third base. A fielder's choice would score the runner to put Kent ahead, 2-0.
The Zips responded immediately in the home half with Roberts smashing a double to left field. Junior Kevin Haas laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Roberts to third before junior Jake Plata's ground out scored Roberts for the first Akron run of the game, bringing the Zips within one, 2-1.
Akron knotted the game up in the bottom of the second after UA starter redshirt freshman Scott Foster retired Kent in order in the top half of the inning. Foster surrendered a pair of runs in three innings of work, also registering a pair of strikeouts this evening. Sophomore Brandon White knocked a solo home run deep to left center to even things up at 2-2.
In the bottom of the third, Roberts gave the Zips the initial lead
when he smashed his seventh home run of the season to the exact
spot White did previously for the 3-2 advantage. With one out,
Plata followed with a single to right before junior Brian
Kordal drove a double to the gap in left center to put both
runners in scoring position. White would walk in his next at-bat to
load the bases before senior Ryan
Frazee patiently drew a walk for the easy RBI to put Akron
ahead, 4-2.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Golden Flashes tied things up in the fifth again courtesy of the long ball as Jared Humpreys hit a two-run homer over the wall in left, evening the score at four runs apiece.
Akron took charge in the bottom of the fifth and broke the game open, plating four runs all in one swing of the bat. Plata, who was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and RBI, led off the frame with a single through the 5-6 hole and Kordal followed with a walk to put two runners on base for the Zips. With one out, Frazee would walk to load the bases, inducing a Kent State pitching change as Alan Morrison took the hill in relief of Sabo. Savage worked a 2-2 count then showed some strength, drilling a towering shot over the right field fence for the fifth home run of the game, giving Akron the 8-4 advantage.
Sophomore James Podgorney entered the game in relief for Fawcett and provided Akron with a solid outing, holding the Golden Flashes scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. Podgorney retired the side in order in the sixth and would surrender a hit and issue a walk in the seventh, but toss a double play ball to keep the Golden Flashes off the board.
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Zips added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to stretch the lead to 11-4. Facing Kent reliever Brannon Belair, Savage singled through the right side to open the frame before junior Nick Solitario made his lone hit in the contest count, driving a two-run shot to left field to plate both runners for his second career homer and first of the season. Redshirt freshman Dan Burant drew a walk next before pinch hitter and junior Kyle Hallett came up clutch with a two-out base knock through the right side. Kordal followed by lining a single sharply up the middle to plate Burant from second, accounting for the final UA run of the frame.
Kent tallied a run in the top of the eighth to improve the score, 11-5 but would do no more. Redshirt sophomore Todd Fleming took the hill in relief for Podgorney and surrendered back-to-back hits before retiring the first KSU batter. Akron recorded the second out as a pinch hitter reached base on a fielder's choice, allowing the lone run to score before Fleming got the next batter to ground out.
The Zips added a run in the bottom of the eighth as well, accounting for tonight's final, 12-5 when Kent's Kyle McMillen issued back-to-back walks to Frazee and Savage to start the inning. With one away, Burant knocked a single to center field for his first career RBI, driving in Frazee from second for the Zips' final run of the game.
The Zips out-hit the Golden Flashes 13-9 and issued just four walks in comparison to Kent's 11 also claiming a 4-2 advantage in home runs hit this evening.
Akron will open a three-game set against Kent State at Schoonover Stadium in Kent on Friday, May 8 at 3:00 pm. The game will be featured on Sports Radio 1350 AM with Bill Morgan's call and live stats will also be provided on www.GoZips.com.
