The University of Akron Athletics
Softball prepped for modified Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament
February 22 | Softball
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PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. – The University of Akron softball team is back in Georgia this weekend, playing in a modified version of the originally scheduled Kennesaw State Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament. All three of Akron's games will be played at Georgia State's Heck Softball Complex.
Kennesaw State Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament Central
Saturday, Feb. 23
Akron vs. Northern Colorado, 10 a.m.
| Live stats (available prior to first pitch)
Akron vs. Georgia State, 2 p.m.
| Live stats
Sunday, Feb. 24
Akron vs. Troy, 10 a.m.
| Live stats
ZIP LINES
- Akron enters the weekend with an even 4-4 record after splitting its four games at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic
- The Zips picked up a pair of wins over Towson and East Tennessee State, and fell to James Madison and tournament host CofC
- UA's eight-inning win over ETSU was its first extra inning victory since April 25, 2012 whtn the Zips defeated Northern Illinois 4-3, also in eight innings
- Senior Alissa Birkhimer led the team with a .545 slugging percentage on the weekend, delivering her first home run of the season in the form of a two-run shot in the first inning against ETSU, and moving to the circle from first base to get the win in relief
- Birkhimer drew as many walks herself (four) as all of Akron's four opponents combined
- The Akron pitching staff combined for 28 strikeouts against four walks in 28 and two-thirds innings
- Five of UA's starting position players averaged .250 or better at the plate in the four games at CofC
- Sophomore Kellie Roudabush posted doubles in back-to-back games against Towson and ESTU, and is hitting .360 overall with a .407 on base percentage
- The Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament is the third of five for the Zips before Mid-American Conference play begins on March 29
- The University of Akron softball team is in its 36th year of existence
- Head coach Julie Jones is in her seventh season with the team and holds a 144-178-1 (.446) record
- In the offseason Jones signed a three-year contract extension that will keep her at Akron through the 2015 season
- UA returns 10 letterwinners (three pitchers) from last year, eight of which have seen time as a starter, joined on the roster by seven newcomers
SCOUT TEAM
Northern Colorado (3-7, 0-0 Big Sky)
- Led by first-year head coach Shana Easley (3-7 overall and at Northern Colorado)
- Finished 25-28 (10-10 PCSC) in 2012
- Picked to finish fourth in inaugural season as Big Sky Conference member
- Picked up two wins at the Iowa State Cyclone Invitational against IPFW and South Dakota State, and one victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the Miken Classic in Waco, Texas
- Led by the offensive trio of Lindsey Smith (.310 avg, .621 slg), Mikayla Duffy (.367 avg, .433 slg) and Kaitlin Flynn (.308 avg, .462 slg)
- Team has posted a combined 23 extra-base hits in first 10 games
Georgia State (5-4, 0-0 CAA)
- Led by third-year head coach Roger Kincaid (79-47 overall and at GSU)
- Finished 2012 with a 38-18 record (13-7 CAA), finishing second in the conference tournament
- Picked to finish second in the CAA this season
- Enters the tournament on a three-game winning streak after defeating Auburn, Oakland and Northern Kentucky by a combined 23-5 margin
- Senior third baseman Paige Nowacki was named CAA Player of the Week, pounding out six home runs and 14 RBI to lead the Panthers to a 3-1 record at their own tournament last weekend
Troy (4-5, 0-0 Sun Belt)
- Led by 20th-year head coach Melanie Davis (839-473-2 overall, 741-452-2 at Troy)
- Finished 2012 with a 31-24 record (10-14 Sun Belt), finishing sixth in the conference
- Picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt this year
- Tallied wins over Georgia State, Tennessee State, and Evansville twice this season
- Freshman ace Rachel Rigney is 3-1 and carries a 1.85 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 34 innings of work
- Hannah Renn paces the offense, hitting .313 with two home runs and a .563 slugging percentage
ON DECK
Akron has a week off before it spends four days in Kissimmee, Fla. for the Rebel Spring Games March 8-11. The Zips will entertain Penn, Holy Cross, South Dakota, Sacred Heart, Butler, North Dakota, Lehigh and Fairleigh Dickinson.
