The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
East Tennessee State
Softball splits final day at College of Charleston Cougar Classic
February 17 | Softball
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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. -- Akron split its final two games at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic on Sunday, defeating East Tennessee State 3-2 in eight innings before dropping a 5-0 decision to tournament host College of Charleston.
Akron 3, East Tennessee State 2 (8)
Alissa Birkhimer and Rachael Ratcliffe came through in the clutch once again in game one as UA needed one extra frame to get past ETSU, 3-2.
Five Zips combined for six hits, fueled by a 2-for-4 showing from Ratcliffe that included the game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Birkhimer wasted no time in breaking the game open, delivering a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the first, scoring Kellie Roudabush who reached first base on a fielding error.
The Bucs got one back in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly that Akron successfully turned into a double play, thanks to a Taryn Allmon to Keelia Nester to Shawna Hochstetler relay.
UA scattered four hits over the next five innings but couldn't get anything going to increase its advantage. Three outs away from victory in the top of the seventh, ETSU had other plans.
With the heart of the order due up, the Bucs pounded three-straight hits with one out, which was enough to get the tying run across and force the Zips to make a pitching change.
Birkhimer moved into the circle from first base in relief of Erin Seiler to get the final two outs without hassle despite two runners behind her.
A two-out Nester single in the bottom of the seventh was the only blip on Akron's radar before the game spilled into extra innings. Birkhimer retired the Bucs in order in the top half of the eighth, then stepped to the plate herself to draw a lead-off walk for UA.
Jessica Schneider laid down a sacrifice bunt with runners on first and second to put them in scoring position with just one out. Ratcliffe finished the job with a walk-off RBI single to give Akron its second extra-inning victory in the tournament.
Birkhimer was credited with the win, her second straight, as the Akron pitching staff did not relinquish a single walk to ESTU.
College of Charleston 5, Akron 0
Freshman Erin Pond went 2-for-4 but Akron struggled as a team offensively, leaving eight runners on base in a 5-0 loss to host College of Charleston in the tournament finale.
UA fell to 4-4 and CofC moved to 2-3 on the year.
Birkhimer (2-2) pitched an inning and a third, giving up four runs in the first two innings that the Zips could not replicate down the stretch.
The Cougars took advantage of Akron's uncharacteristic three errors and added to its early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth after a triple from third baseman Kelsey Hodgson.
Akron was unable to work around Cougar pitcher Stephanie Saylors who threw a complete game for her first win of the season.
The Zips travel back to Georgia next weekend to compete in the Kennesaw State Tournament Feb. 22-24, where they will face Troy, Campbell, (rv/rv) Virginia Tech, Georgia State and Jacksonville State over the three-day span.
