The University of Akron Athletics
Baseball Hosts Ball State for Three-Game Series this Weekend
May 01 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team welcomes Ball State University for a three-game series at Lee R. Jackson Field this weekend, beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. The series will continue with games on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., on both days.
Gameday Information
Friday – 3 PM
Ball State: Sr., RHP TJ Weir (6-1, 3.31 ERA, 73.1 IP, 25 BB, 89 SO)
Akron: So., LHP John Valek III (3-4, 2.60 ERA, 62.1 IP, 15 BB, 21 K)
Saturday – 1 PM
Ball State: Jr., RHP Scott Baker (6-4, 4.57 ERA, 63.0 IP, 11 BB, 44 SO)
Akron: So., RHP JT Brubaker (3-4, 4.21 ERA, 47.0 IP, 25 BB, 32 K)
Sunday – 1 PM – Senior Day
Ball State: Fr., RHP Scott Plesac (8-2, 2.60 ERA, 65.2 IP, 22 BB, 50 K)
Akron: Jr., LHP Pat Dyer (3-2, 5.26 ERA, 37.2 IP, 11 BB, 30 K)
Midweek action…
The Zips have played just one game this week, Wednesday at Wright State, due to a cancellation on Tuesday at Youngstown State because of rain. Akron made good use of their one midweek game, topping the Raiders by a final score of 9-5.
Down 5-1 in the top of the fifth, the Zips plated seven runs between the fifth and seventh innings. Redshirt junior Matt LaRocca highlighted the evening with a two-run home run, his third of 2014, to left field. Freshman Dom Iero also registered a two-run double in the seventh to push Akron to a 9-5 win.
Freshman Josh Davis earned his first collegiate win following 1.1 innings with two hits allowed and one strikeout. Junior Jon Pusateri recorded his first save of the season with three innings to finish the game with three strikeouts.
Last weekend…
Akron travelled to the University at Buffalo for a weekend Mid-American Conference series, which resulted in three losses for the Zips. Buffalo took game one, 3-2, despite a strong performance from starting pitcher John Valek III, who tossed 6.0 innings with one run allowed. Sophomore Kris Simonton led the attack with two hits and two runs scored.
In game two, the Zips held a 3-2 lead after a three-run third inning, but ended up falling to the Bulls, 6-3, in the final tally. Redshirt junior Devan Ahart went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.
UA dropped the series finale on Sunday, as UB had four multi-run innings en route to an 11-6 win. Freshman James Meeker III, who batted .333 this weekend, totaled a team-high three hits and three run scored.
20 wins…
The Zips are currently 22-21 heading into the weekend. UA picked up the 20th win of the season on April 16 in a non-conference matchup against Western Michigan.
Akron has had five 20-win campaigns in the past 10 seasons.
The rotation…
John Valek III will be making his 11th start of the season in the series opener on Friday. This season, Valek has totaled a 2.60 ERA over 62.1 IP, both tops on the pitching staff. Within the MAC, he ranks fifth in ERA among all starters. Valek has allowed one run or less in five starts, including a complete game shutout over Ohio on April 11.
JT Brubaker will toe the rubber on Saturday in his 10th start of the season. He comes into the weekend series with a 3-4 record over 47.0 innings. Brubaker is second on the weekend rotation with a 4.21 ERA.
Junior Pat Dyer is the scheduled starter for the weekend finale on Sunday. Dyer will be making his second consecutive start in the Sunday role for the Zips rotation. Last week, the southpaw lasted three innings with four earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts. Overall in 2014, he has 30 strikeouts compared to 11 walks.
Blazing a path…
The Zips have registered 62 stolen bases this season, led by Devan Ahart with 24 steals so far. James Sheltrown has also reached double digits with 11 steals, while Havrilak (9) and Simonton (8) round out the top four on UA. Within the MAC, Akron ranks fourth, while holding a 54th place standing in the nation.
Freshman sensation…
James Meeker III has shown strong promise for the Zips both in the field and at the plate this season. The native of Wexford, Pa., has played in 42 games split his time between third and first base, while also leading the team in RBI (21). Along with the team lead in runs driven in, Meeker has recorded five doubles, 18 walks, 18 runs, and two stolen bases.
The first-year Zip has a slash line of .295/.373/.329 heading into the weekend.
Looking ahead…
This weekend is Akron's final home weekend MAC series of the regular season. The Zips have weekend series scheduled at Northern Illinois (May 9-11) and Kent State (May 15-17). The series opener against KSU will be played at Canal Park for the Diamond Classic.
Scouting the Cardinals…
Ball State enters the weekend with an overall record of 30-14 and 14-3 within the MAC, tops in the West Division. Sean Kennedy leads the offense with a .354 batting average, while Sean Godfrey has the team-high in RBI (48) and homers (8).
BSU's pitching staff owns a collective 5.14 ERA this season. The Cardinals scheduled starters this weekend are TJ Weir (3.31 ERA), Scott Baker (4.57 ERA) and Zach Plesac (2.60 ERA).
