The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Takes Down Eastern Michigan in Windy Ypsilanti
April 15 | Baseball
YPSILANTI, Mich. - The University of Akron baseball team battled through winds gusting to 45 miles per hour to pick up a 5-2, series opening win over Eastern Michigan at Oestrike Stadium Friday afternoon.
Andrew Brown was once again dominant on the mound, going 8.0 strong innings and striking out seven to pick up his third win of the season. Brown allowed just two earned runs in the outing. Samuel Trecaso and James Sheltrown collected a pair of hits and an RBI each and Jared Turocy drove in a pair. Junior Chris Bassitt struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save of the season.
Akron (7-25, 1-9 Mid-American Conference) fell behind early when the Eagles (19-14, 5-5 MAC) scored a run in the bottom of the first when they executed a squeeze play to score Brent Ohrman. Brown then battled back to strike out Tucker Rubino with runners on the corners, ending the inning.
The Zips would grab the lead in the top of the second, taking advantage of a key EMU error to plate three runs. Kurt Gamby and Brandon White lead off the inning with back-to-back singles. Trecaso then laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached safely when Eagles' first baseman Lee Longo dropped the throw from pitcher Rob Wendzicki. Sheltrown's single to left center then drove in White and Jared Turocy's fielder's choice allowed Gamby to come across. Akron's lead grew to 3-1 when Tyler Begun's RBI single to left field scored Trecaso.
Akron extended the lead by adding another run in the third. White reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by third baseman Ben Magsig. White advanced to third on another Eagle error and scored on an infield single by Trecaso.
Jared Turocy drove in Trecaso with a two-out single in the fifth, before the Eagles added their second run in the bottom of five. The score is just the second earned run allowed by Brown in his last 27.0 innings of work.
Brown continued to roll before EMU put runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth. Brown struck out Magsig - becoming the junior's seventh and final strikeout victim of the game - to preserve the Akron lead.
Bassitt was nearly untouchable in the ninth getting three consecutive strikeouts on just 13 pitches. Bassitt has now thrown 12.0 innings and appeared in eight games since last giving up an earned run.
Akron and Eastern Michigan will attempt to continue the weekend series tomorrow with a 3:00 p.m. first pitch. However, inclement weather is forecast for the Ypsilanti area so stayed tuned to GoZips.com for any schedule changes and updates.
