The University of Akron Athletics
Softball takes on Cleveland State in non-conference action Tuesday
April 08 | Softball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron softball team will briefly step away from conference play when it takes a quick trip north for a doubleheader at Cleveland State on Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m. at Viking Field.
The games will serve as Akron's first true non-conference doubleheader of the season after cold temperatures postponed its series at Youngstown State last week. Zips head coach Julie Jones will be looking to secure career victories 399 and 400 against her former program in CSU, where she is still the all-time winningest head softball coach.
UA (14-17) went 1-3 over the weekend on the road at Bowling Green and Toledo. The Zips broke an offensive slump with a 15-5 six-inning victory over Toledo on Saturday, recording a season-high 19 hits in their biggest production at the plate so far this year. Shawna Hochstetler and McKenzi Rhodes each had three hits apiece and Rachael Ratcliffe posted a pair of doubles.
Ratcliffe currently leads the team with eight multi-hit games on the season, and Hochstetler is just one behind with seven. Hochstetler fuels the offense from the leadoff spot in the lineup and is the only Zip hitting above .300, carrying a .354 average and slugging .525. She also leads the team with 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
Cleveland State (10-13) has won five out of its last eight games but just one of its last four. The Vikings have not played a game since a doubleheader at Wright State on March 30, as its series last weekend at Green Bay was postponed. Senior Dara Toman guides the CSU offense hitting .364 with a .697 slugging percentage, followed closely by Erica McNew (.354 average, .738 slugging). The pair has combined for 12 home runs and 32 RBI so far this season.
Livestats and video streaming links for Tuesday's doubleheader can be found on the Akron softball schedule page.
The Zips are slated to host their first home games of the year this weekend when Ball State and Miami (Ohio) visit Lee R. Jackson Field. Akron will take on the league-leading Cardinals in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by single games with the RedHawks on Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).
