The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Wright State
Baseball Falls to Wright State on Wednesday, 3-1
April 23 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron (21-18) baseball team dropped the matchup to Wright State University (22-16) on Wednesday night at Canal Park by a final score of 3-1.
Sophomore Michael Steensen provided Akron with a terrific start on the mound Wednesday in his seventh start of the season. The right-hander tossed 6.0 innings of one-hit baseball with four strikeouts. Steensen held a no-hitter until the Raiders recorded their first hit of the game in the sixth.
After three shutout frames by both team's starters, the Zips backed up Steensen with one run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Devan Ahart led off the inning with a single to left, and quickly stole his 21st bag of the season. He was driven in from second on a single to center from Daulton Mosbarger, his 13th RBI in 2014.
Akron's 1-0 lead would remain until Wright State rallied for three runs in the seventh off of Zips' relievers Evan Jensen and Zach Beaver to take a 3-1 advantage. Jensen was tagged with the loss, dropping his season record to 0-2 on the mound.
The Zips threatened in the seventh with the bases loaded, and then again in the ninth with runners on first and second with no outs. However, a fly out and a line drive double play ended each inning, respectively.
Freshman right-hander Masashi Sakamoto worked two scoreless innings with one walk and one hit allowed in the loss. He has a season ERA of 1.63 after Wednesday's appearance.
Overall, the Akron offense combined for five hits and four walks. James Sheltrown, Matt Rembielak, Matt LaRocca, Ahart and Mosbarger had one hit apiece. Sheltrown led the team with two walks, giving him 23 walks this season.
UA will look to a three game set at Mid-American Conference East Division opponent the University at Buffalo, beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. The series will continue with games at 1 p.m., on both Saturday and Sunday.
