The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Cleveland State
Jones picks up 400th career win as Softball sweeps Cleveland State
April 09 | Softball
Follow Akron Softball on Twitter and Facebook
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Resilient defense and timely hitting helped the University of Akron softball team earn a pair of one-run victories on the road at Cleveland State Tuesday afternoon at Viking Field. The Zips came from behind in game one to win 3-2 on a last-inning sacrifice fly from Cassie Gleisner, and the pitching staff worked together in game two to hold off multiple rallies from the Vikings for a 5-4 victory.
With the doubleheader sweep, Akron (16-17) gave head coach Julie Jones her 400th career victory against her former program in Cleveland State (10-15).
"I am obviously very pleased with today's outcome, and the fact that our offense was able to produce a little more than we have over the last few games," Jones said. "We still have a little way to go, but we really stepped up and finished the job today when we needed to.
"It is awesome to be able to reach this milestone at the place I used to call home. Cleveland State was very good to me during my time there and to have this happen here in front of friends and family was very special."
Game One
Akron 3, Cleveland State 2 | Box Score
The Zips used a fourth-inning rally and some seventh inning magic to sneak by Cleveland State 3-2 in game one.
Erin Seiler tossed her 15th complete game of the season to improve to 10-11 in the circle, striking out four without allowing a walk.
CSU took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI double from its right fielder Alyson Broschk, but the Zips would start their climb out of the hole two frames later.
Kellie Roudabush started with a leadoff double down the left field line, and advanced to third when the catcher's throw rolled into center field in an attempt to pick her off second base. Alissa Birkhimer reached first safely on the ensuing error by the Viking second baseman and Roudabush scored Akron's first run of the day.
Iesha Mountain came in to run for Birkhimer and stole second on the very next pitch. The sophomore moved over to third on a passed ball, and a Jessica Schneider single to right would be enough to bring her home to tie the score at two.
The next few frames were quiet for both sides, until the top of the seventh when Erin Pond fired a leadoff single down the right field line. McKenzi Rhodes was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many at-bats, putting runners on first and second with no outs for Cassie Gleisner.
The runners would advance to second and third on another passed ball, and Gleisner delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Pond for what would prove to be the winning run.
With two outs, a runner on first, and Cleveland State's best hitter at bat in the bottom of the seventh, Rhodes made a brilliant play behind the plate with a perfect throw to pick off the tying run at first, sealing the victory for the Zips.
Game Two
Akron 5, Cleveland State 4 | Box Score
The second inning and relief pitching were the keys to the game for Akron in round two, as the Zips went off for four runs on five hits in the second frame and UA made good use of three different pitchers to hang on for the 5-4 win.
MacKenzie Conrad notched her first victory of the season, throwing four and one-third innings. Three of the four runs she allowed were off Cleveland State solo home runs, but a strong relief effort from Lisa Lash and Seiler's first save helped to preserve the decision for Conrad.
The Zips picked up an early run in the first on a Rachael Ratcliffe sacrifice fly, but CSU quickly matched that with a one-run shot in the bottom half of the inning.
Pond singled to center field to start the second, and an identical hit from Rhodes and a bunt single from Gleisner loaded the bases for Akron. Roudabush stepped to the plate and drew a walk from a full count to bring in a run and force a Cleveland State pitching change.
It didn't matter for Birkhimer, who dug in for a double down the right field line, scoring Rhodes and Gleisner, and giving Ratcliffe a chance to do the same. Ratcliffe singled to bring one more run across and give Akron a comfortable 5-1 advantage.
Trouble started brewing in the bottom of the fifth when another CSU home run cut the deficit to one, and Lash came in to relieve Conrad. Entering Tuesday's games, Lash had just one other appearance on the season, but the sophomore hit her spots to get the Zips out of the inning.
She followed that up with a near-flawless performance in the bottom of the sixth to set the stage for Seiler, who entered in the bottom of the seventh to pick up her first save.
Akron returns to Mid-American Conference action this weekend in its first home games of the season when it hosts Ball State on Friday in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Lee R. Jackson Field. The Zips will welcome Miami (Ohio) for single games on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
