The University of Akron Athletics
Chippewas' Walk-Off Edges Zips in Series Finale
April 11 | Baseball
For the third consecutive game, Central Michigan rallied, scoring five runs in the ninth inning to erase an 8-4 Akron lead and defeat the Zips 9-8 at Theunissen Stadium today.
Central notched three singles in the home half of the ninth to load the bases without any outs before a key two-RBI single drew the Chippewas within two, 8-6. A batter later, another RBI single followed before a fielder's choice RBI tied the game and forced starter Benjamin Danziger from the game as Drew Turocy took to the hill in relief. With two away, a double to the gap in left center plated the go-ahead run for Chippewas, giving the club its third come-from-behind win in the series.
Unable to avoid the series sweep, Akron falls to 14-16 overall and 2-7 in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas improve to 18-11 overall and 8-1 in the conference with today's victory.
Danziger (3-4) worked eight frames and gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits while striking out four, suffering today's loss. Zach Cooper (2-1) recorded the win in two innings of relief work.
As it had in the first two games of the series, Akron struck first as the Zips and Chippewas traded runs in the second, with Akron's scoring on an error while Central's was driven in on a sacrifice fly, tying the game a 1-1.
The Blue and Gold kept the scoring going in the third, utilizing four hits and a pair of CMU errors to take a 4-1 lead. Brian Kordal and Brandon White each tallied RBI singles while Kordal scored following John Turk's fielder's choice as the CMU shortstop chucked the ball past the first baseman.
Following two scoreless innings, the Zips broke the game open atop the sixth as Akron plated three runs to extend its lead to 7-1. Nick Solitario drove a one out single to left before Kevin Haas followed with his second double of the contest to put a pair on for the Zips. Turocy clubbed his second triple in as many days and fourth on the year to drive both Zips in. Then, one out later, Kyle Hallett deposited a single in left to plate Turocy for the third run of the frame, chasing starter Sabol from the game as lefty Mike Nixon entered in relief and retired the side with a groundout.
After four scoreless innings, Danziger and the Zips ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back one out singles preceded a pair of doubles to plate three CMU runs. Fortunately, the junior would get a strikeout and groundout to end the frame with Akron ahead, 7-4.
In the seventh, Akron struck back, adding a run when Solitario singled and Samuel Trecaso drove him in on a bloop single to center, giving the Zips the 8-4 advantage before one and a half scoreless frames gave way to the ninth.
Akron's offense was fueled by three-hit performances from Plata, Solitario and White while Turocy led the Zips with a pair of RBIs.
Today's loss is especially tough for the Zips who led throughout en route to outhitting Central 17-16 and committed just one error in comparison to CMU's four.
Akron returns to the diamond Wednesday (April 14), traveling to nearby Youngstown, Ohio for a midweek game against the Youngstown State Penguins at 3 p.m. at Eastwood Field. The Zips are also slated to host Eastern Michigan (April 16-18) for the MAC series next weekend.
