The University of Akron Athletics
Softball Downs FDU At Spring Games, 15-0
March 17 | Softball
- Spurred by a nine run third inning, the Zips (8-8) posted the
most runs since 2003 in their 15-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson
(4-6) Tuesday at the Rebel Spring Games.
Powered on both sides of the ball, the Zips belted out 16 hits
while junior Heather Bauer pitched a one
hit contest in the win.
Starting the game out on the right note, Bauer struck out the side
to open the contest and pitched a no-hitter until the fifth inning
when a fast running FDU player beat out a throw to first base.
Bauer struck out nine walking four in the victory to move to 4-3 on
the season.
Offensively, the Zips started breaking down the FDU pitching early
when in the bottom of the first inning junior Alex
Feltes and freshman Alissa Birkhimer laid down
hits. A hard hit line drive double to right center field from
junior Monica Shorter would bring
them home (2-0).
In the second inning, junior Sarah Earley and senior Krista
Hansen combined to add another run when both dropped hits into
opposite sides of the field while Hansen's drove Earley home (3-0).
A fielder's choice would get Hansen out but land Feltes at second.
A base hit from Birkhimer would put runners at first and third and
a run down between the two would allow Feltes to steal home for the
4-0 lead.
A two base fielding error landed lead off hitter Bauer at second to
star the Zips third. A high flying ball hit by sophomore Allison
Dorr dropped in left center field to push Bauer to third and
put Dorr at second. A follow-up high flying hit by freshman Cassie Gleisner drove
Bauer home (5-0). Earley would draw a walk to load the bases and a
left field line base hit from Hansen would push the score to 7-0
sending pinch runner freshman Mary Hyland and Gleisner
home. A left field hit from Feltes allowed Earley to cross the
plate (8-0), which prompted a pitching change.
A triple by Birkhimer cleared the bases (10-0) but Shorter and
Bauer walked to reload bases for Dorr. A patient Dorr drew a walk
to keep the bases loaded and let Birkhimer score (11-0). Shorter
scored on a sacrifice fly by Gleisner (12-0) and a bunt single by
freshman Alex Helfrich loaded the
bases once again. A fielding error put Earley on to score the final
run of the inning and score Bauer (13-0).
In the fourth, Akron added two more when Feltes hit a single
landing on second on a illegal pitch coming home when Bauer hit a
double barely inside the fence. Dorr followed suit with another
double just inside the park for the 15-0 lead. FDU's closest run
action came in the top of the third inning when runners were at
first and second off two walks.
Akron opened the day with a tough 4-2 loss to the Tennessee-Martin
Skyhawks. UTM would score all four of its runs in the fourth
inning. A bunt single and double to right center would put runners
at second and third. A hard hit line drive to center field would
score both runners for the first runs of the game (0-2). With a
runner at second a line drive single would advance the runner to
third and she would come home off a Zips throwing error. With the
runner advancing to third, another error scored the fourth run of
the inning (0-4).
Akron got two back in the fifth inning from unlikely sources when
Gleisner and sophomore Alex Helfrich, getting her
first career start, started the action both laying down their first
career hits. Earley would push them to second and third on a
sacrifice bunt and a bloop base hit by senior Krista
Hansen drove Gleisner home (1-4). Hansen would steal second to
push both runners again in scoring position and an error by the UTM
shortstop would let Helfrich score (2-4).
Held to six hits as a team, Hansen went 3-for-4 with an RBI against
the Skyhawks.
The Zips will conclude the Rebel Spring Games Wednesday taking on
Maryland and Marist at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
