The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Niagara
Softball sweeps home opening twinbill against Niagara
March 22 | Softball
Follow Akron Softball on Twitter and Facebook
Game One Final Stats | Game One Final Stats (PDF) | Video Highlights
Game Two Final Stats | Game Two Final Stats (PDF) | Season Stats
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron softball team improved to 13-6 on the season after cruising to a doubleheader sweep of Niagara in its home opener at Lee R. Jackson Field Saturday afternoon.
Backed by a seven-run second inning, the Zips powered their way to a 10-1 victory over the Purple Eagles in the first game, then posted their fourth shutout of the season as part of an 11-0 rout in the night cap. With the two losses, Niagara fell to 8-11 on the year.
As a team, UA combined for 25 hits while allowing just four in a pair of complete-game efforts by starting pitchers Erin Seiler (7-2) and Mackenzie Conrad (4-3). Both games were called after five innings.
The Zips' four-game homestand continues with a second doubleheader Tuesday against Youngstown State. The first game of the twinbill is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Game One: Akron 10, Niagara 1
A two-run double by Chelsea Wildey was the key hit of the Zips' seven-run, second inning that saw 10 UA batters come to the plate and erase an early 1-0 lead by Niagara – its only of the afternoon.
The offensive explosion provided more than enough runs for Seller, who allowed just a pair of hits while fanning six and walking one. The sophomore grew stronger as the game developed, retiring 10 of the last 11 batters faced to close out the game.
Offensively, ten different Zips collected at least one hit and seven drove in at least one run in the rout. Erin Pond and Taryn Allmon were a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish and Alyssa Nicholas connected on her first career home run, a two-run shot in the third inning.
Game Two: Akron 11, Niagara 0
Shawna Mailloux homered to lead off the home half of the first inning and drove in three runs as part of a 3-for-3 performance to pace the Zips' offensive barrage in the night cap.
Following Mailoux's first round tripper of the season, Akron scored three more times – all with two outs – to take command and never looked back. UA added a pair of runs in the second and third innings and three more in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Conrad was nearly unhittable in the circle – striking out eight of the first nine batters she faced – and was perfect through 3.1 innings. The Purple Eagles finally broke through in the hit column with a one-out single to left field in the fourth but the sophomore induced the next batter to hit into a double play to end the inning.
The Zips' middle of the lineup was a factor as Kellie Roudabush (2-for-3), Allmon (2-for-3) and Jessica Reiman (2-for-3) combined to go 6-for-9 with four runs scored and four RBI.
