The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Charlotte
Baseball Rallies Past Charlotte for 5-4 Comeback Win
February 22 | Baseball
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Box Score
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With the Zips down 4-2 in the final inning, sophomore infielder Dom Iero clubbed a two-run sacrifice fly to tie the game before a single off the bat of sophomore catcher Brian Lees plated the go-ahead run to lift the University of Akron baseball team to a 5-4 victory over Charlotte on Sunday at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.
The victory moves the Zips to 4-2 as they have won both of their first two series of the season.
"We were glad to take two of three on the road, especially with a comeback win today," said head coach Rick Rembielak. "We didn't let them get too far ahead of us which gave us a better opportunity late."
Following seven-straight scoreless innings from the Zips, Akron loaded the bases for the third time on the afternoon to get the rally started in the top of the ninth.
Junior designated hitter Daulton Mosbarger drew a walk and advanced to third on a Dan Lawrence single. Senior outfielder Joey Havrilak reached base on a hit-by-pitch before Iero stepped to the plate with one out to initiate the come-from-behind win and set Lees up for the game-winning single.
"The ball that Iero hit was the hardest and deepest all weekend, which enabled Lawrence to score all the way from second base after the catch," Rembielak added.
Mosbarger then moved over to the mound to pitch the bottom of the ninth. He set down the 49ers in order to seal the Zips' victory and earn his second-straight save in just three appearances on the mound.
With two RBI today, Iero collected four of the Zips' six total RBI throughout the three-game series as he leads the team with 10 this season.
The teams got out to a scoring start with Akron claiming a 2-0 lead after the top of the first. Mosbarger scored his first of two runs on the afternoon, coming on a balk. Senior Kris Simonton then sent an RBI single to left for the two-run lead.
However, the 49ers (1-2) would respond in their half of the opening frame by taking advantage of an early Akron error and plating three quick runs against senior starter Jon Pusateri to jump ahead, 3-2.
While Akron remained scoreless until the ninth inning, Charlotte plated a run in the fourth on an Eddie Hull RBI single to make it 4-2.
Pusateri ended his outing after six innings pitched. He gave up six hits and four runs, three earned, while walking two and striking out three.
Sophomore reliever Josh Davis (1-0) got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning and recording two strikeouts. Freshman Josh Lapiana also contributed a scoreless inning of work to help the Zips hold off the 49ers for the rally opportunity.
The Zips return to action when they take on UNC Greensboro in a three-game series set to begin on Friday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.
