The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Sacred Heart
Softball sweeps day one of Rebel Spring Games
March 07 | Softball
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Final Stats vs. Sacred Heart | Final Stats (PDF) vs. Sacred Heart
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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Three weeks off from competition did not seem to faze the University of Akron softball team, as the Zips completed a doubleheader sweep on the first day of the Rebel Spring Games. UA defeated Sacred Heart, 3-1, before shutting down Niagara, 3-0.
The Zips face another twinbill on Saturday, taking on Temple at 10 a.m. and Manhattan at 12:00 p.m.
Game One: Akron 3, Sacred Heart 1
Seven different Zips tallied a hit to help Akron hold off a late Sacred Heart rally in what was UA's first real game in almost exactly one month.
Erin Seiler threw a complete game victory to improve to 2-0 on the young season, striking out four. The sophomore pitched her way out of a two-out, bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh to secure the victory for Akron.
Both teams were relatively quiet until the bottom of the fourth when Akron's bats started to come alive. Jessica Schneider knocked a single into center field, and MacKenzie Conrad singled up the middle to put runners on first and second with just one out.
Chelsea Wildey came to the plate and singled to right field to load the bases, and the sacrifice fly from Taryn Allmon that followed put the Zips on the board first. McKenzi Rhodes drove home Conrad on a single to center to put Akron ahead 2-0 before the inning was over.
UA put up one more run in the bottom of the fifth after Rachael Ratcliffe issued a leadoff single and eventually stole home.
SHU (3-4) gained a run back with an RBI double in the sixth, and threatened again in the top of the seventh. The Pioneers put two runners in scoring position with just one out, but Seiler was able to work her way out of the inning, forcing a pair of fly balls to center field that Allmon was able to put away.
Game Two: Akron 3, Niagara 0
Conrad tossed a complete game shutout and struck out seven to carry Akron to a 3-0 victory over Niagara in round two.
UA (5-2) was led by Shawna Mailloux and Jessica Reiman at the plate. Mailloux went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Reiman followed suit with a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored.
The Zips scored their first two runs in the top of the fifth inning when Allmon started things off with a leadoff double to center field. Reiman came through with a bunt single to move Allmon to third, and promptly stole second to give Akron runners in scoring position with no outs.
Reiman came around to score as Erin Pond reached safely on a fielder's choice, and Mailloux brought home Pond on a single to left, giving Akron the 2-0 advantage.
UA put up one more insurance run in the seventh when Mailloux singled to left field on a full count to drive in Reiman. The Purple Eagles pinch hit three batters in the bottom half of the inning but Conrad struck out the side to end the game.
