The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Northern Illinois
Akron Softball Sweeps Northern Illinois with 12-6 Win Sunday
April 22 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio – A five-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in the game as the Akron softball team defeated Northern Illinois 12-6 on Sunday at Lee R. Jackson Field.
The win gave the Zips (17-26-1, 3-11 MAC) their first series sweep of the Mid-American Conference schedule and dropped NIU to 18-28, 6-10 in league play.
Allison Dorr went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. Alissa Birkhimer was 1-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Brittany Maurer (15-19) got the win, allowing six runs (five earned) on 12 hits and struck out three and walked four.
Akron jumped all over the starting NIU pitcher, posting three runs on four hits and an NIU error. With one out in the frame, Alex Helfrich, Birkhimer, Rachael Ratcliffe and Dorr all reached on base hits in consecutive at bats. Helfrich, Birkhimer and Ratcliffe would all score for the 3-0 lead.
The Zips would add a run in the bottom of the second on a fielder's choice when Keelia Nester would score on the throw attempt to get Helfrich out at second.
NIU plated two runs in the top of the third inning to cut the Akron lead to 4-2. The damage could have been worse as the Huskies had the bases loaded with one out. However, Maurer would get a pop up and a fly out to end the threat.
The Huskies added two more runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. NIU had a chance to do more damage, but left the bases loaded for the second-consecutive inning.
UA posted a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a five run, six hit performance to take a 9-4 lead. NIU committed two errors in the frame to keep the inning alive for the Zips.
After Akron posted a run in the fifth, NIU equaled the run in the top of the sixth on a solo home run to make the score 10-5. Akron manufactured two runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase its advantage to 12-5, but the Zips would leave the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Huskies would add a run in the top of the seventh, but it would be too little, too late as Akron would win the game 12-6 to earn the series sweep.
Akron will hit the road for their final road trip of the 2012 season when they play a doubleheader at Eastern Michigan on April 27 and at Central Michigan on April 28-29.
