The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Central Michigan
Softball falls 2-0 to Central Michigan in MAC Tournament first round
May 07 | Softball
Follow Akron Softball on Twitter and Facebook
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) | Season Stats | Video Highlights
2014 Mid-American Conference Tournament Central
AKRON, Ohio -- A two-run home run from Central Michigan catcher Cory DeLamielleure was the only difference in a classic pitchers' duel, as third-seeded Akron dropped a 2-0 decision to sixth-seeded CMU in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Wednesday night.
MAC Pitcher of the Year Erin Seiler struck out seven and surrendered five hits in seven innings of work for Akron (27-15), but the Zips' offense was unable to find a way around Central's Rachael Knapp, managing two hits against the Chippewas' freshman pitcher.
Playing under the lights for the first time this year, Chelsea Wildey ripped the first hit of the game for either team in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-2 pitch to left field. Kellie Roudabush stepped up and drew a two-out walk on four pitches to put runners on first and second for the Zips early on, but Akron could not convert.
Seiler was strong through the first three innings of play, retiring eight of the first 10 batters she faced on the strength of six strikeouts.
The only hiccup for Akron came in the fourth inning when Cory DeLamieulleure broke the scoreless tie with a longball over the wall in center field for Central (33-20). Seiler retired the Chippewas in order in the fifth, and did not allow a Central baserunner past second for the rest of the night.
Akron found itself with two on and just one out in the bottom of the sixth inning after Wildey was hit by a pitch to open the frame and Roudabush came up with an infield single, but the pair would be left stranded.
UA moves on to face No. 7 Northern Illinois on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at Firestone Stadium. The Zips and the Huskies split their doubleheader meeting in the regular season just six days ago, winning 2-0 before falling 9-4.
