The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Youngstown State
Akron Softball Falls 7-6, Ties Youngstown State 5-5 in Doubleheader
March 27 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron softball team fell 7-6 and tied Youngstown State 5-5 in doubleheader action at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field in the squad's home opener on Tuesday.
The Zips (11-14-1) scored 11 runs between the two games, with the second game of the twin bill against YSU (16-6-1) called due to darkness after the completion of the sixth inning.
Crystal Hernandez led the way for Akron, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs on the day while Alex Helfrich went 3-for-6 with a walk. Brittany Maurer pitched six innings between the two games, allowing six runs (two earned) on nine hits and striking out three.
Four players recorded two hits in game one, including Helfrich, who went 2-for-2, while Alissa Birkhimer, Allison Dorr and Hernandez all went 2-for-4. Hernandez added two RBIs. Maurer (10-11) was tabbed for the loss, allowing six runs (2 earned) in five innings while walking four and striking out three batters.
Akron opened the games with runs in each of the first three innings. Rachael Ratcliffe started off the scoring with two-out double in the bottom of the first to plate Maurer, giving the Zips a 1-0 lead.
Hernandez tallied her first RBI of the day on an RBI single in the bottom of the second for a 2-0 lead. Three batters later, Amanda Ricker, running for Hernandez, scored on a double steal to give UA the 3-0 advantage.
YSU would answer in the top of the third, plating four unearned runs to grab a 4-3 lead. The Penguins got one run on an error by third baseman Lisa Lash before pushing three more across on a two-out three-RBI triple.
The lead would be short-lived as Hernandez drove in her second run of the game in the bottom of the third, followed by an RBI single by Keelia Nester, for a 5-4 advantage.
Neither team would score over the next two innings before YSU plated two runs in the top of the sixth and another in the top of the seventh for a 7-5 lead.
Dorr would get the Zips within one, launching a home run to right-center to lead off the bottom of the seventh, cutting the Akron deficit to 7-6. Iesha Mountain would pinch run for Hernandez, who reached on a two-out single, but would be stranded at second after stealing the base.
Taryn Allmon led Akron in game two, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored as the Zips scored four unearned runs in the game.
With two outs and one on in the bottom of the second, the Zips were able to push three unearned runs across to grab a 3-0 lead. With Allmon on second, Nester reached first an error, allowing Allmon to score. Helfrich would drive in Nester and Maurer, who reached base after being hit by a pitch, on an error by the shortstop.
YSU answered in the top of the third with three runs of their own to tie the game at 3-3. A walk and two singles in the bottom of the third allowed the Zips to regain the lead at 4-3. Akron would add another run in the bottom of the fourth to extend their advantage to 5-3.
The Penguins tied the game in the top of the fifth, as neither team would score a run after that point to force the tie.
The Zips return to action on Friday, March 30, when they play host to Toledo in their Mid-American Conference opener at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. ET.
