The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kentucky
Baseball Defeated by Kentucky in Game Two of Weekend Series
March 02 | Baseball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Akron (0-8) baseball team lost the second game of the three game series against No. 8 University of Kentucky (9-1) by a score of 7-0 at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman lefty John Valek III made his second start of the season, and was tagged with the loss to drop his season record to 0-2. Valek went 5.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts and five earned runs allowed. The native of Parkland, Fla., had made it through 4.0 innings with one earned run allowed before allowing three runs in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth.
"Valek wasn't perfect, but he continues to show good control and very good mound presence especially for a freshman," Head Coach Rick Rembielak said following the loss. "We need to feed off of him and support his efforts."
The bullpen stopped the Kentucky offense following the exit of Valek. Daulton Mosbarger, Zach Beaver, and Andrew Fanning combined to come out of the bullpen for 2.1 scoreless innings with four hits and two walks allowed. Mosbarger and Fanning each went one inning, while Beaver pitched a third of an inning following Valek.
"We'd also like to see our relievers come in and work ahead better. We haven't done that these two games," Rembielak said Saturday.
The Akron offense was stymied by Kentucky starting pitcher Jerad Grundy. The Zips mustered two hits off of the Wildcats' starter, and three hits overall on Saturday. Grundy tossed 8.0 innings with 12 strikeouts and faced 26 batters.
Matt Rembielak recorded his third hit in three games in the loss. Matt LaRocca and James Sheltrown also tallied base hits against Kentucky.
"We still have a case of not hitting. I thought as the game continued our swings got more tentative and slow," said Rembielak of the Akron offense. "Their pitcher had a very good changeup, and it slowed our aggressiveness at the plate. Until we learn how to combat that, our results will be the same."
Akron's weekend series at Kentucky will wrap up on Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium with a scheduled first pitch for 1 p.m. Live stats and video links are available on the Akron baseball schedule page.
