The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Set for Weekend Series at Central Michigan
May 10 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team will open up a three game Mid-American Conference series on Friday at 3 p.m., against Central Michigan University in Theunissen Stadium. The series will continue with games on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., on both days.
Game Day Information
Friday – 3 p.m.
Akron: Fr., RHP JT Brubaker (0-7, 6.59 ERA)
CMU: So., RHP Jordan Foley (6-4, 1.85 ERA)
Saturday – 1 p.m.
Akron: Fr., LHP John Valek III (3-7, 4.46 ERA)
CMU: Fr., RHP Taylor Lehnert (3-3, 3.68 ERA)
Sunday – 1 p.m.
Akron: Fr., RHP Michael Steensen (1-1, 6.23 ERA)
CMU: Sr., LHP Rick Dodridge (2-4, 2.28 ERA)
Series Overview
Akron baseball comes into the weekend series with an overall record of 13-32 and 8-12 within the MAC, following a 16-hit, 11-run performance in the 11-2 win over Penn State.
UA's most recent MAC series was this past weekend against Western Michigan University. Akron won the three game series, the third series win of the season, with victories in the opening two games of the series.
The Zips defeated the Broncos by a score of 7-6 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday, but couldn't pull off the series sweep as the Broncos were victorious on Sunday, 3-2.
Central Michigan heads into the MAC series with an overall record of 22-25 and 9-12 within the conference. The Chippewas played a pair of midweek games this week, one on Tuesday at home versus Kalamazoo College and on Wednesday at Oakland. CMU won both of the contests, a 5-0 win over Kalamazoo and a 13-9 victory over Oakland.
The Chippewas last conference games were this past weekend against Kent State. CMU won one out of three games against Kent, with the lone victory coming on Sunday by a score of 8-2. Central Michigan was defeated by scores of 4-1 and 6-3 last Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Overall the CMU offense has posted a .246 batting average with 63 doubles, 22 homeruns, 239 runs scored, and 75 stolen bases. Leading the Chippewas in batting is Nick Regnier at a .319 batting average with four homers and 32 RBI.
Akron holds an all-time series record of 13-48 against Central Michigan. The last time these two squads matched up was in the 2012 season for a three game series, which was played in Akron on April 27 and April 29 (Doubleheader). Akron won the series opener by a score of 7-0, but fell to CMU in both games of the doubleheader on the 29th.
The Rotation
Freshman JT Brubaker is set to make his team-leading 13th start of the season on Friday against CMU. Last time out, the native of Carlisle, Ohio recorded 4.0 innings pitched with five hits and two earned runs allowed in the 7-6 win last Friday over WMU. Overall this season, Brubaker has a 6.59 ERA over 56.0 innings.
John Valek III will be the Saturday starter for the Zips, which will be his 12th start of the season. Valek currently leads the Zips pitching staff in innings pitched at 72.2 innings. Over the 72.2 innings, the native of Parkland, Fla., has totaled a 4.46 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 20 walks.
Valek's last time out was this previous Saturday, when he lasted 6.1 innings on the mound versus WMU with two earned runs allowed and two strikeouts. The freshman notched his third win of the season, which brought his season record to 3-7.
Freshman Michael Steensen is slated as the Sunday starter for the Zips. Steensen comes into the matchup against the Chippewas with an overall pitching record of 1-1. In his previous start this past Sunday against WMU, Steensen registered 5.2 innings on the mound with one run allowed and three strikeouts.
This season, Steensen has pitched 30.1 innings with seven strikeouts and 19 walks.
The Lineup
MAC East Player of the Week Brady Stewart has been hitting at a torrid pace for the Zips offense. Over the past five games, Stewart has gone 10-for-21 with seven RBI, one run scored, one walk and one double. He has raised his batting average from .245 to .263 in the five-game span.
Senior Jared Turocy leads the Zips in batting average at .351, while also recording 21 RBI, two homers, five doubles and 14 runs scored. Turocy is currently riding a 15-game hit streak dating back to the 4-2 win over Ohio University on April 12.
Sophomore Devan Ahart holds the team-high in several categories for the Zips offense, including runs (20), hits (52), doubles (14) and stolen bases (10). In 44 games played, Ahart is batting .292 with a .342 on-base percentage.
Sophomore Matt Rembielak has a consecutive game hit streak of his own, sitting at nine games heading into the weekend series. Over the past five games, Rembielak has gone 9-for-24 with two RBI, four runs scored, and two RBI. From the beginning of his hit streak on April 21 at BGSU, Rembielak has raised his season batting average from .221 to .257.
Matt LaRocca has also been hitting well over the Zips past five games, going 8-for-19 with four runs scored, one double and two RBI. This season, LaRocca has posted a .286 batting average to go along with two homers, 21 RBI and 16 runs.
The Bullpen
Freshman Zach Beaver has excelled out of the Akron bullpen lately, mostly as a long reliever. Over his past five outings, Beaver has pitched a total of 13.2 innings with one run allowed. Four out of five of the outings lasted 3.0 innings. This season, Beaver owns a 2.52 ERA over 35.2 innings on the mound.
Senior Samuel Trecaso has been stellar coming out of the bullpen this season. Trecaso owns a 0.99 ERA over 27.1 innings pitched with a record of 4-1 and three saves. The native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio has struck out 15 and walked only six in his time on the mound this season.
Along with being a force at the plate, LaRocca has seen strong success on the mound this season for UA. LaRocca has pitched 29.2 innings pitched, including one start, with a 1.82 ERA and 23 strikeouts. His most recent outing was on Saturday, when he earned the save after pitching 2.2 innings with two strikeouts to end the game.
Akron Baseball Golf Outing
Zips baseball will be hosting its annual golf outing this summer on Monday, July 22 at Medina Country Club. If you're interested in participating in the outing, please contact Alexa Doutt by phone at 330-972-2695 or email at asd9@uakron.edu.
