The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
St. Francis (Pa.)
Softball Sweeps St. Francis (Pa.) 4-3 and 4-0
April 25 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron softball team, behind a 6-for-7 performance with four runs scored by Keelia Nester, swept St. Francis (Pa.) 4-3 (8 innings) and 4-0 on Wednesday at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field.
The Zips (19-26-1, 3-11 MAC) have now won four-straight and five of their last eight while the sweep ended the five-game winning streak by the Red Flash (21-23, 8-8 NEC).
St. Francis got on the board first in game one, plating two runs on four hits in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead. The Red Flash had a chance to score a couple more runs with one out, but Brittany Maurer was able to retire the No. 6 and No. 7 hitters to end the inning.
The Zips played small ball in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to 2-1. Nester led the inning off with an infield single and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. She would then score on Alissa Birkhimer's fielder's choice.
Both pitchers settled down as neither team plated a run over the next three innings. UA had its best chance to score the tying run in the bottom of the fourth with two on and two outs. However, Kellie Roudabush was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.
Taryn Allmon tied the game at 2-2 with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth.
Akron had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the seventh when Allmon reached on a one-out double but the next two Zips' batters would not be able to drive her home.
St. Francis scored in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead thanks to the international tie-breaker rule, which placed a runner on second. The rule was put in place in order to fit the doubleheader in since Lee R. Jackson Softball Field is not equipped with lights.
With Nester on second to start the bottom of the eighth, Alex Helfrich singled, followed by a Birkhimer single to tie the game at 3-3. Three batters later and with two outs, Maurer reached on an error to drive in the winning run.
Allmon finished the game 3-for-3 with a home run. Maurer (16-19) went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits and striking out three in eight innings pitched.
Akron opened game two as the visiting team on the scoreboard and immediately took a 1-0 lead. Nester led the game off with a standup double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Birkhimer after reaching third on a sac bunt by Helfrich.
The Zips added a second run in the top of the second on UA's second sacrifice fly of the game, this time by Crystal Hernandez. Birkhimer drove in her second run of the game in the top of the third on an RBI single to increase Akron's advantage to 3-0.
Amanda Ricker led off the top of the fifth with her first triple of the season and scored two batters later when Nester was caught attempting to steal second and slide into home on the throw.
Andrea Arney (1-0) went the distance for the complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and striking out six while walking two. Nester finished the game 4-for-4 with two runs scored.
Akron will hit the road for its final road trip of the 2012 season when it plays a doubleheader at Eastern Michigan on April 27 and at Central Michigan on April 28-29.
