The University of Akron Athletics
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Texas Tech
Softball sweeps opening day with wins over Texas Tech and Alabama State
February 07 | Softball
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HAMMOND, La. -- Akron started the 2014 season off on a high note Friday night, sweeping its doubleheader against Texas Tech, 4-3, and Alabama State, 12-9, on the first day of the Southeastern Louisiana Invitational.
The Zips will face a quick turnaround on Saturday, taking on Texas Southern at 11 a.m. ET and Nicholls State at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Game One: Akron 4, Texas Tech 3
Akron fought back from a three run deficit to capture a 4-3 victory over Texas Tech in game one. The Zips collected just two hits but drew six walks, and together it was enough to take down the Big 12 opponent. The victory moved UA to 23-9-1 all-time in season-openers.
MacKenzie Conrad (1-0) pitched five innings of relief and was credited with the win, allowing just one hit and striking out four.
"It was great to start off with a big win over a big team from a big conference," said head coach Julie Jones. "We worked together to come from behind, and MacKenzie did an excellent job in relief to shut it down."
Chelsea Wildey, McKenzi Rhodes and Taryn Allmon each tallied RBIs for the Zips.
Texas Tech (0-1) got on the board first in the opening frame, and tacked on two more runs in the third inning off Akron starter Sara Pearson. The Red Raiders used a leadoff home run and a bases-loaded hit batter to take a 3-0 lead before Pearson forced an inning-ending double play.
The Zips struck back in the bottom of the fourth when Rachael Ratcliffe started things off with a walk and advanced to second on Wildey's ensuing fielder's choice. With runners on first and second, Conrad stepped to the plate and issued a sacrifice groundout to move them into scoring position.
After a RBI sacrifice from Rhodes, Allmon singled to center field to drive home Wildey and make it a one-run game.
Akron forced a TTU pitching change in the fifth after loading the bases with just one out, thanks to a pair of walks and a hit by a pitch. Wildey stepped in and walked as well to tie the game, and Kellie Roudabush scored what would be the winning run on a wild pitch.
Conrad took care of Texas Tech in the last two innings, retiring the last six batters she faced in order to secure the victory.
Game Two: Akron 12, Alabama State 9
Roudabush went 4-for-4 with a double and five RBI to help propel Akron past Alabama State in game two, 12-9.
The Zips (2-0) pounded out 12 hits and used a seven-run sixth inning to distance themselves from the Hornets, putting up an extra pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to close the game.
Pearson (1-0) notched her first victory in the circle as a Zip, throwing one and two-thirds innings.
With the game tied at three heading into the bottom of the fifth, ASU snuck three runs across on a pair of sacrifices and a RBI single to right field to take a 6-3 lead.
Jessica Reiman, pinch hitting for Lisa Lash, stepped to the plate with one out and runners on second and third. The sophomore took a 3-1 pitch for a double, clearing the bases and making it a one-run game. Shawna Mailloux drew a walk, and Erin Pond followed Reiman's cue with a double of her own, tying the game at 6-all.
A wild pitch plated Mailloux and moved Pond over to third before Roudabush singled to the gap in right center field to bring Pond home. Roudabush eventually scored on an infield single off the bat of Wildey, and Ratcliffe came home as well to put the finishing touches on UA's big inning.
Alabama State (0-2) earned three runs back in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-clearing double from its catcher, but Roudabush delivered again with a two-out, two-RBI single in the seventh.
"We did all the little things right today," commented Jones. "Everyone stepped up when they needed to – Jess Reiman's pinch hit was huge for us in the second game. This was a great start for us and gives the team a lot of confidence heading into the second day of the tournament."
