The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Elon
Baseball Falls to Elon in Season Opener
February 17 | Baseball
ELON, N.C. – The University of Akron baseball team dropped the opening game of its 2012 campaign to Elon, 7-1, Friday afternoon at Latham Park.
Andrew Brown (0-1) picked up the loss for Akron (0-1), giving up seven runs in five innings of work. Kyle Webb (1-0) grabbed the win for Elon (1-0), allowing just one run on two hits over seven innings.
"Overall, Andrew pitched an ok game," UA coach Rick Rembielak said. "He got in trouble by leaving some pitches up when he was ahead in the count."
Sophomore Kurt Gamby and redshirt freshman Joey Havrilak each doubled for Akron, with Gamby picking up an RBI. Senior Danny Fawcett tossed a pair of scoreless innings in relief, while freshman Jason McPeek also threw a scoreless frame.
Sebestian Gomez led the Phoenix, going 2-for-4 with five RBI.
Elon wasted little time getting on the board, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Niko Fraser led the inning off with a single back up the box and then scored from second on a Sebastian Gomez double to left. Gomez would score on a Ryan Kinsella sacrifice fly after advancing to third on Alex Swim's single.
Gomez stretched the Elon lead to 6-0 in the fourth when he took Brown deep to left with the bases loaded for a grand slam. Michael Elefante, Chris Bresnahan, and Fraser all scored on the Gomez bomb.
"Gomez fouled off some really good stuff from Brown, and then got a pitch he can drive," Rembielak commented. "That changed the whole complexion off the game."
The Phoenix put another run on the board in the fifth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Elefante. Garrett Koster scored on the play after he doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a bunt single by Jake Luce.
The Zips tallied their lone run of the game on a pinch hit RBI double by Gamby in the top of the seventh. Havrilak led off the frame with his first career hit, a double down the left field line. Havrilak scored when Gamby followed suit with a double of his own down the line in left.
"We hit some balls hard, but didn't do it consistently enough to string anything together offensively," Rembielak said. "We just have to do better each time out, starting tomorrow. We need to be better in game two than we were in game one."
With the weekend schedule being altered, Akron returns to Latham Park tomorrow for a doubleheader with Appalachian State. The first game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.
