The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Heading to the University of Kentucky for Weekend Series
February 28 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team will travel to No. 11 University of Kentucky this weekend for a three game series beginning on Friday at 4 p.m., in Cliff Hagan Stadium. The series will continue on Saturday at 1 p.m., with the final game of the series to be played on Sunday at 1 p.m.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Friday – 4 p.m.
Akron: So., RHP Jon Pusateri – (0-2, 5.59 ERA)
Kentucky: So., LHP A.J. Reed – (1-1, 5.79 ERA)
Saturday – 1 p.m.
Akron: Fr., LHP John Valek III – (0-1, 5.87 ERA)
Kentucky: Sr., LHP Jerad Grundy – (2-0, 0.69 ERA)
Sunday – 1 p.m.
Akron: Fr., RHP JT Brubaker – (0-2, 5.25 ERA)
Kentucky: Jr., LHP Corey Littrell – (0-0 6.52 ERA)
Series Overview
Friday's series opener will be the first time in 42 years that Akron and Kentucky matchup in baseball. The last time UA and Kentucky met was during the 1971 season, which resulted in a 4-0 loss for Akron.
The Zips come into the series with an overall record of 0-6. This past weekend the squad was swept by No. 4 University of Louisville in a three game series. Akron lost to Louisville by scores of 7-0 and 8-0 on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Sunday turned out to be a pitchers duel going into the seventh, but UA ended up on the losing end, 2-1.
The Kentucky Wildcats come into the weekend series with a record of 7-1. The Wildcats traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to play three different teams this past weekend. Last Friday they lost to Kansas State, 7-5, but finished the weekend with wins against Elon, 6-1, and Coastal Carolina, 8-2. The Wildcats also played two mid-week games this week. Both games were wins against Murray State, 11-5, and Eastern Kentucky, 6-2.
Akron is one of two teams Kentucky will play from the Mid-American Conference this season, as Kentucky plays Ohio University on March 2 in Lexington, Ky.
Freshman Dealing
JT Brubaker had a terrific outing on Sunday vs. Louisville. The freshman right-hander tossed 7.2 innings with four hits and two earned runs allowed, while also striking out three Cardinals' batters. Brubaker held Louisville to only two hits through the first six innings of play.
Starting with a Streak
Brady Stewart has started the season strong with eight hits in 21 at-bats over the first two series, good for a team-leading .381 batting average. The junior catcher has recorded a base hit in each of the six games thus far this season. Stewart has compiled a .435 OBP and a .429 slugging percentage to start the season. Amongst his eight hits, he has registered a double and an RBI.
Getting Back to the Beginning
Jon Pusateri and John Valek had slight struggles in their respective starts against Louisville. Valek and Pusateri combined for 8.0 innings pitched with five strikeouts and two earned runs allowed in the season opener on Friday, Feb. 15 against Georgia Tech, but struggled in following up their performances against Louisville.
Pusateri took the mound last Friday vs. Louisville, and went 5.1 innings with nine hits and five earned runs allowed en route to a 7-0 loss. The loss dropped Pusateri's record to 0-2.
The freshman Valek started at pitcher last Saturday for the first time in his collegiate career. The native of Parkland, Fla., threw 4.0 innings with four earned runs and four walks allowed. The game ended in an 8-0 loss for UA. Valek's record fell to 0-1 in the defeat.
Odds and Ends
Sophomore Joey Havrilak is having success at the plate early into the season. Havrilak is hitting .286 (6-21) with one home run, one double, one RBI, and four runs scored. The native of Washington, Pa. owns the squad's lone home run, and leads the team in runs scored and slugging percentage (.476). Havrilak has not made an error in the field in 17 chances.
Freshman Daulton Mosbarger has earned four straight starts in centerfield and in the leadoff position after coming off the bench in the beginning of the Georgia Tech series. Mosbarger is currently hitting .214 (3-14) with four walks, one run scored and one double. He is second on UA in OBP (.389), while leading the team in walks. The native of Bellefontaine, Ohio has also made one pitching appearance out of the bullpen that came against Louisville last Friday. He went one inning with one earned run allowed.
Junior Devan Ahart had a strong showing in the Louisville series. Over the weekend, Ahart hit .400 (4-10) with two stolen bases and two walks. His weekend performance was good for a .500 OBP. Overall this season, Ahart is hitting .238 (5-21) with three walks and a .320 OBP. The native of Orchard Lake, Mich., has started all six games in centerfield and in the three-spot of the lineup.
Early Tests Against Top Teams
The Akron baseball team is one of four teams in the nation to start their season with six or more consecutive games against top-ranked opponents. Only Akron and Rhode Island will begin the season with nine games against top-25 teams. The other two teams to start out with six or more games against top-25 teams are Hawaii and TCU.
