The University of Akron Athletics
Late Comeback Pushes Zips Past UNCW, 11-5
March 06 | Baseball
The UA baseball team overcame a three-run deficit, rattling off
10 runs in the final three frames en route to routing
UNC-Wilmington, 11-5 at Brooks Field this afternoon.
With the win, Akron moves to 3-5 on the year while UNC-Wilmington drops to 3-4. Akron starter, sophomore Alex Loftin (2-1) went the distance, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits while tallying six strikeouts. Reliever Brian Rhino (0-1) took the loss in a third of an inning pitched after surrendering three earned runs on as many hits. Starter Tyler McSwain went six innings and allowed a run (unearned) on three hits in six innings pitched.
Brandon White was 3-for-5
with a pair of runs scored today while Drew Turocy provided the
bulk of Akron's offense on his first career grand slam.
Akron trailed 4-1 but hung tough, battling back with a three-run
seventh inning to tie the game. Facing the first of seven UNCW
relievers in Jesse Hanley with one out, Nick Solitario doubled
to put runners on second and third after Jason Corzine drew a
walk. Kevin Haas belted a two-RBI
double to right field to bring the Zips within one. With two away,
Jake Plata drove in Haas on a
double of his own, deep to right center to knot things up at
4-all.
Loftin sat the Seahawks down in order in the home half, enabling Akron to get back to business atop the eighth. White and John Turk notched back-to-back one-out singles to get the Zips started before Corzine drove the first pitch he saw through the left side to put Akron ahead, 5-1, chasing Rhino from the game. With Andrew Harnage on the mound, Solitario drew a walk to load the bases before the righty retired the next UA batter on strikes. With two away Turocy drove the 1-1 offering over the wall in right center, clearing the bases on a grand slam homer for a career-high four runs, giving Akron the 9-4 advantage.
Akron plated two more runs in the ninth when the Zips opened the frame with three consecutive singles to load the bases against reliever Tyler DeLoach. Hallett, Kordal and White each reached on base knocks before Turk patiently drew the walk for the easy RBI, putting Akron ahead 10-4. Following a pair of UA strikeouts, Kordal would come around and score on a wild pitch, giving Akron the 11-5 lead heading into the home half.
Loftin recorded a groundout to start the ninth before UNC-Wilmington first baseman Robbie Monday homered to make it 10-5. Loftin would surrender a double to the next batter before inducing a groundout and pop up to end the contest.
Akron's first run came in the fifth when White stole third base before scoring on a throwing error by UNCW's catcher.
Akron will face both UNC-Wilmington and Stony Brook tomorrow. The Zips take on the Stony Brook Seawolves at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning before a rematch against the UNCW Seahawks at approximately 4:30 p.m. Live stats will be featured on www.gozips.com
