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Western Michigan
Softball wins 10-2 slugfest over Western Michigan, earns No. 3 seed in MAC Tournament
May 04 | Softball
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AKRON, Ohio -- Akron tied a season-high 13 hits, with four players turning in multi-hit performances in the Zips' six inning, 10-2, rout of Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.
UA finishes the regular season with a 27-14 overall record and a 12-6 mark in the Mid-American Conference, advancing to the league tournament for the first time since 2009. The Zips will play as the No. 3 seed, taking on No. 6 Central Michigan on Wednesday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Firestone Stadium.
Kellie Roudabush led the way for Akron in its final home game, going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, including her first home run of the season. She also drove in four runs, scored two herself, and drew two walks hitting in the cleanup spot.
Chelsea Wildey put up three hits and scored three runs to bolster Akron's offense, while Shawna Mailloux and Jessica Reiman added two his apiece.
Starting pitcher Erin Seiler recorded her 20th victory in the circle, throwing all six innings. The only hiccup of the day was a two-run home run given up to Western Michigan third baseman Marlee Wilson in the top of the second inning.
For the second consecutive day, the Zips struck early and often, plating seven runs over the course of the first two frames. Roudabush's home run came in the bottom of the first, a three-run shot to center field after she fouled off the first two pitches she saw.
After WMU's Wilson returned the favor in the top of the second, Akron answered by bringing 10 batters to the plate in the home half of the inning. Taryn Allmon started things off with a single to right, and was sacrificed to second by McKenzi Rhodes. Savannah Fruin connected on a double that bounced off the wall in center field to bring home Allmon and the Zips began to pull away.
UA scored three more times on four more hits in the inning, taking a 7-2 advantage into the third.
Akron would wrap up the game in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a leadoff single off the bat of Wildey. Jessica Schneider moved Wildey over to second on a sacrifice bunt, and Roudabush brought her home on a double. An RBI single from Reiman brought the Zips to within one run of ending the game. Two batters later, Allmon reached safely on a fielder's choice as Reiman beat the throw home to score the final run of the day.
The game was also Akron's eighth annual Strike Out Cancer Day. The team wore pink uniforms to support breast cancer research, with the initials T.R. on the sleeve to recognize Terri Ratcliffe, mother of junior Rachael Ratcliffe, who completed chemotherapy earlier this week.
