The University of Akron Athletics
Broncos Sweep Zips in Friday Doubleheader
April 15 | Softball
- In Mid-American Conference road action, The University of Akron softball team fell victim to the Western Michigan Broncos in Kalamazoo on Friday afternoon. The Zips (18-17, 2-6 MAC) dropped game one 9-0 in five innings and then lost game two 6-4 after a comeback effort fell short.
Akron managed only two hits in game one, while WMU (12-24, 6-4 MAC) notched nine. Alex Riedeman picked up the loss, giving up eight runs, five earned, and striking out two. She falls to 9-7 on the season.
The Broncos struck first when Lexi Jager hit a solo shot into left center on the first pitch she saw, putting WMU up 1-0 after the first inning.
The second inning was a big one for the Broncos, as they scored six runs on three hits and capitalized on two Akron errors in the field. 10 batters came to the plate as the Zips struggled to make plays, falling behind 7-0 heading into the third.
After a scoreless third, Western Michigan added two more runs on three hits in the fourth. The Broncos recorded a two-out single and followed that with an RBI triple. The next batter hit a single to right that scored the second run, giving the Broncos a 9-0 lead.
The Zips were retired in order in the fifth, ending the game 9-0 in favor of WMU.
In game two, Andrea Arney picked up the loss, moving her to 1-1 on the season. The Zips recorded four hits in the contest, while WMU notched 14. Heather Bauer drove in three of the Zips' four runs with her third homer of the season.
Again the Broncos got off to a fast start, as Meredith Whitney led off the bottom of the first with a towering homer down the left field line for the first run of the game. WMU then loaded the bases with no outs after a single and two attempts by the Zips to get the lead runner failed. The next batter hit a grounder to third, and this time Akron got the runner at home for out number one.
Another run scored on a single up the middle for the third hit of the inning. Arney then struck out the next batter and forced a ground out to third to end the inning with Akron trailing 2-0 after one.
Akron scored its first run of the day when Olivia Hegedus led off the second with a bomb to right center, her team-leading 10th homer of the season, to bring the Zips within one.
Western scored in the second on a two-out RBI double to make it 3-1 after two innings.
In the third, WMU again scored with two outs after back-to-back singles drove in a run to put Akron down 4-1. With two on and two out, Bauer struck out Whitney to head to the fourth.
Jager led off the inning with a double and later scored on a base hit down the left field line. The Broncos would plate another run off an Akron error to make it 6-1 after four. Alex Feltes converted a double play by catching a sharp line drive and stepping on third to end the inning.
The Zips got back in the game thanks to a three-run home run from Bauer with two outs in the sixth, as she sent her third long ball of the season over the left field fence to make it 6-4.
Western Michigan retired Akron in the seventh to seal the victory and earn the sweep on the day.
Akron will face Northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday to wrap up the road trip. Saturday's contest is slated to begin at 3 p.m. ET. Check GoZips.com for updates and recaps of all the action.
