The University of Akron Athletics
Softball modifies weekend schedule, hosts home opener Saturday
March 20 | Softball
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AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron softball team has revised its schedule for this weekend, and will play a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.
UA (11-5) will travel to Robert Morris on Friday to take on Siena in a doubleheader beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Zips will then return home to host their regularly scheduled home opener on Saturday against Niagara at 1 p.m.
Akron is coming off a 2-3 weekend at the George Mason Cherry Blossom Classic, picking up a pair of wins over Binghamton, including its first extra-innings victory of the season.
Sophomore McKenzi Rhodes launched her first two home runs of the season, both three-run shots, helping to boost a 1.429 slugging percentage for the tournament. Rhodes was 3-for-7 over the five games, with three walks and a double to add to her two home runs. Her three-run blast in the top of the third inning in the rematch with Binghamton broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the winning runs for Akron in a 7-3 victory.
Erin Seiler continued to pitch well for the Blue and Gold, improving her record to 6-1 in the circle with two complete game victories over Binghamton and George Mason. In 22.0 innings pitched over three games, she struck out 27 batters against just nine walks. She threw all eight frames in an extra-innings victory over BU to open the tournament, posting a 1.75 ERA. In her only loss to Colgate, Seiler tied a career high with 11 strikeouts and only allowed two earned runs.
Siena enters Friday's doubleheader with a 6-10 overall record but has won one game in its last six outings. The Saints defeated Army, 11-3, last weekend at the Rebel Spring Games. Alyssa Lancaster leads Siena offensively with a .419 batting average. Starting pitcher Jessika Sandrini carries a 3.61 ERA and has a 4-4 record over 40.2 innings.
Niagara (7-9) is 3-1 since the Purple Eagles and the Zips last met on March 7 at the Rebel Spring Games. Akron won that contest, 3-0. Niagara picked up wins over Rhode Island, UMBC and Hampton at the UMBC Dawg Pound Invitational. Ambur Farmer holds a team-best .297 batting average with two doubles and a triple. Jennifer Sansano is 5-1 in the circle, boasting a 2.09 ERA with 38 strikeouts.
After this weekend, the Zips will host their first weekday games of the season when Youngstown State visits Lee R. Jackson Field on Tuesday, March 25 for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Akron kicks off Mid-American Conference play next weekend with a road trip to Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
