Softball Blanks Bulls 6-0 in Weekend Finale

May 01 | Softball

BUFFALO, N.Y. - On Sunday afternoon, The University of Akron softball team earned a split with Buffalo by blanking the Bulls 6-0 in game two of the weekend series. The Zips improve to 22-22 overall and 6-11 in the Mid-American Conference.

Senior Alex Riedeman threw a complete game shutout, her fifth shutout of the season, while allowing the Bulls (11-32, 6-10 MAC) just four hits on the day.

Alex Feltes led off the game with a triple to left, her second of the season. After Olivia Hegedus reached on an error, both runners scored when Alissa Birkhimer put a sharply hit ball into left center to give the Zips an early 2-0 lead.

The Zips added two runs in the fourth when Alex Helfrich reached on a bunt single and Cassie Gleisner scored on the play. Then Sarah Stromack came home when Katie Gross hit an infield single just past the shortstop, allowing UA to take a 4-0 advantage after the first four innings.

After a scoreless fifth, Akron again added a run after Stromack led off with a base hit and Helfrich notched a bunt single that helped pinch runner Felicia Houtz score on an error. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Zips led 5-0.

In the seventh, UA loaded the bases with no outs after recording three straight base hits. With two outs, pinch runner Amanda Ricker scored from third on a throw down to first, and Akron would take a 6-0 lead into the final frame. The Zips would then preserve the shutout in the bottom of the seventh.

Akron will have the week off before its last weekend of regular season games at Toledo and Bowling Green May 6-8.