The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
S.C. Upstate
Baseball Falls to USC Upstate in Series Opener
March 08 | Baseball
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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of Akron (0-10) baseball team lost to the University of South Carolina Upstate (9-3) by a score of 11-2 on Friday night at Harley Park.
Freshman JT Brubaker was the starting pitcher for Akron, and his record fell to 0-4 in the loss. Brubaker tossed 2.2 innings with three earned runs and eight hits allowed.
Brubaker was relieved in the third inning by Andrew Fanning, who posted 4.1 innings pitched with no earned runs and three hits allowed. Fanning has not allowed a run in 10 IP out of the bullpen. The bullpen's streak of innings without an earned run was ended at 15.1 innings due to Joe Cochran allowing an earned run in the eighth inning.
"Two big innings really hurt us. Those innings consisted of tentative pitching and an error in each," Head Coach Rick Rembielak said Friday. "[Andrew] Fanning threw well for us. He stayed in the zone, and hit with all his pitches, which kept [USC Upstate] off balance."
Akron lead USC Upstate 2-1 heading into the second inning. Matt LaRocca and Joey Havrilak each connected on RBI singles in the second. LaRocca finished with two base knocks with a single in the third inning.
Junior Devan Ahart registered two base hits and a run scored in the loss. The native of Oakland, Mich., improved his batting average to .297 with the pair of hits, and earned his first run scored of the season.
Matt Rembielak continued to contribute out of the two-hole in the lineup, as the sophomore tallied a base hit and a run scored. Rembielak has four hits and two runs scored over the past four games played.
UA and USC Upstate will continue the three game series on Saturday with a 1 p.m., scheduled first pitch. The probable starting pitcher for Akron is southpaw John Valek II. Links to live stats and the video stream are available for the game tomorrow on the Akron baseball schedule page.
