The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Dayton
Akron Softball Drops Two Games at Dayton
March 25 | Softball
DAYTON, Ohio – The Akron softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader at Dayton, falling 3-1 in game one and 2-1 in game two on Sunday.
Junior Alissa Birkhimer led the Zips (11-13) with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate in the twin bill. She finished the day with one RBI and was hit by a pitch.
Brittany Maurer (10-10) was credited with both loses, allowing five runs on 13 hits in 12 innings pitched. She struck out eight batters while allowing just one walk.
Dayton (12-15) got on the board early in game one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. All three runs came with one out, including a two-RBI double by the Flyers.
The Dayton pitching staff held Akron without a hit until Allison Dorr singled to lead off the fifth inning. She would eventually advance to second on a sacrifice bunt but would be left on second to end the inning.
Akron got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-out RBI single by Birkhimer to plate Alex Helfrich who singled to open the inning. The Zips would go down in order in the seventh to end the game.
In game two, the Flyers would grab a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single up the middle with two outs. From there, neither team would generate much offense, combining for just two hits in the second through fourth innings.
The Akron bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning as the Zips tied the game at 1-1 thanks to three hits in the frame. Rachael Ratcliffe led the inning off with a single before Iesha Mountain, pinch running for Ratcliffe, was thrown out trying to steal second.
With two outs in the fifth, Kellie Roudabush doubled down the right field line and scored moments later when Taryn Allmon doubled down the left field line to end the rally.
The Flyers would push a run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead thanks to three hits in the inning. Akron would mount a rally in the top of the seventh.
Birkhimer led off the inning with a single and was pinch ran for by Amanda Ricker. After Ratcliffe flied out to second base, Dorr was able to reach second on a fielder's choice and a throwing error, but Ricker was forced out at second base for the second out of the inning. Roudabush would end the game on a groundout to third base.
The Zips return to Akron for their home opener on Tuesday, March 27, against Youngstown State. The doubleheader with the Penguins will begin at 3 p.m. ET at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field.
