Baseball Drops Central Michigan in MAC Tournament Opener, 9-6

May 22 | Baseball

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AVON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team completed its first Mid-American Conference Tournament win since 2005 by a score of 9-6 over Central Michigan University on Wednesday night at All Pro Freight Stadium.

Sophomore Daulton Mosbarger led off the game in a big way as he sent the second pitch of the game sailing over the rightfield fence for his first collegiate home run.

Following Mosbarger's early long ball, redshirt junior Devan Ahart singled and stole second for his 27 steal of the season. Sophomore Kris Simonton singled to put runners on the corners. CMU's starter Pat Kaminska then balked to score Ahart from third.

Sophomore Billy Salem capped off the early rally with a RBI groundout, bringing Simonton home from third and giving Akron a 3-0 lead heading to the bottom of the first.

Junior southpaw Pat Dyer made the start for the Zips, and worked three scoreless frames to start the game. Redshirt junior Matt LaRocca spotted Dyer with another run in the second on a solo shot to leftfield, his fifth home run of the 2014 campaign.

Lightning in the top of the third caused a one hour and forty-three minute delay. The delay did not halt the Zips offense, as the squad plated one run following the break in the third on a RBI single by redshirt senior Brady Stewart.

Central Michigan fought back for two runs in the fourth to cut Akron's lead to 5-2. Both teams had scoreless frames in the fifth, before UA erupted for a three-run rally in the top of the sixth.

LaRocca started the scoring effort with a RBI single to right. Ahart followed with a two-out, two-RBI single through the right side with the bases loaded to put the Zips ahead 8-2.

The Chippewas offense powered through in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs in the frame. Redshirt junior Myles McVeigh was tagged with three runs and did not record an out. Freshman Josh Davis allowed one run, but ended the inning after McVeigh's exit.

Davis was able to toss a scoreless bottom of the seventh to hold the 8-6 Akron advantage. The Zips increased the lead to 9-6 in the top of the eighth on an error by CMU third baseman Morgan Oliver.

LaRocca came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth, and worked a 1-2-3 frame with one strikeout.

The Zips went scoreless in the ninth to set the stage for LaRocca to close out the game. CMU started the ninth by loading the bases on a single, error and a hit by pitch with no outs.

LaRocca locked in with the bases loaded, setting down the final three batters of the game to close out the 9-6 Akron victory. Dyer recorded the win, improving to 4-4, while LaRocca registered his sixth save of the season.

Akron totaled 13 base hits in the win, led by Mosbarger with three. Ahart, Simonton, Stewart and LaRocca had two hits apiece.

UA will play at 4:30 p.m., Thursday at All Pro Freight Stadium against the sixth seeded University at Buffalo. For more information regarding the MAC Tournament, follow this link.