The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Softball Heads to Virginia for Cherry Blossom Classic
March 12 | Softball
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GAMENOTES IN PDF
FRIDAY NOTE: All games today have been moved up one hour because of a threat of rain. Akron will now play at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
THIS WEEK
Akron softball makes its final tournament run before opening conference play. This weekend the Zips travel to Fairfax, Va., for George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic.
On Friday, March 13, Akron opens tourney play with Wagner at 2:30 p.m., followed by an evening game with host George Mason at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, March 14, the Zips face Georgetown at 10:30 a.m., followed by a re-match with George Mason at 3 p.m. On Sunday, March 8, the Zips conclude tourney play with a rematch against Georgetown at 10:30 a.m.
Akron returns 11 letterwinners, including five starters, from a year ago. The Zips welcome six true freshmen.
The Akron Zips, under ninth-year head coach Julie Jones, stand 8-11 overall after action at the Rebel Spring Games last weekend in Florida.
After 19 contests, sophomore 3B Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) is the Zips' top hitter, batting .321 with a team-best 18 hits, three doubles, two home runs, and a team-best 12 RBI in 19 starts. Senior SS Chelsea Wildey (Oviedo, Fla.) follows with a .292. She has seven hits, two doubles, and five RBI in 10 starts.
On the mound, 2014 MAC Pitcher of the Year Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) stands 8-6 after 92.1 innings of action. She's struck out 124 batters and walked 23 while throwing 13 complete games, including three shutouts.
SCOUTING WAGNER
The Seahawks, under 20th-year head coach Glen Payne, stand 4-6 overall after a 10-2 loss to Maine. Senior SS Kelsey Parker is Wagner's top hitter, batting .393 with 11 hits, three doubles, a home run, and five RBI in 10 starts. On the mound, sophomore McKaleigh Goodale is 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in five games. She's thrown 27.1 innings, fanning 15 batters and walking eight.
In series action, Akron holds a perfect 4-0 mark against Wagner since 2010.
Series vs. Wagner
Feb. 20, 2010 W, 6-1 at Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C.
March 14, 2010 W, 4-3 at Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.
March 14, 2010 W, 6-1 at Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.
March 12, 2012 W, 3-0 at Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.
SCOUTING GEORGETOWN
The Hoyas, under 10th-year head coach Pat Conlan, stand 7-11 overall after an 10-2 loss to USF. Sophomore 1B Alessandra Gargicevich-Almeida is the top hitter at .378 with 14 hits, a double, and eight RBI in 11 starts. On the mound, senior Megan Hyson (5-2) has pitched 47.2 innings and has a 1.17 ERA. She's struck out 61 and walked 15.
This is the first meeting between Akron and Georgetown on the softball diamond.
SCOUTING GEORGE MASON
The Patriots, under ninth-year head coach Joe Verbanic, stand 1-10 overall after a 10-9 (11 innings) loss and an 8-7 win over Virginia on March 11. Sophomore IF McKenzie Jones is the team's top batter, hitting .429 with six hits in seven starts. On the mound, junior RHP Christina Gabriele is 0-4 with a 6.56 ERA in 23.1 innings of action. She's fanned 10 batters and walked five.
Akron holds a 6-3 series edge over George Mason since the teams' first met in 1988.
Series vs. George Mason
April 2, 1988 W, 6-0 at OSU Tournament in Columbus, Ohio
March 17, 1995 W, 7-2 at UNCW Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.
March 18, 1995 W, 1-0 at UNCW Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.
Feb. 21, 1998 W, 4-0 at Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C.
Feb. 18, 2005 W, 9-1 (6 inn.) at Elon Invitational, Elon, N.C.
Feb. 27, 2009 L, 1-2 at Patriot Classic in Fairfax, Va.
March 3, 2012 W, 5-3 at Patriot Classic in Fairfax, Va.
March 14, 2014 L, 3-8 at Cherry Blossom Classic in Fairfax, Va.
March 15, 2014 L, 7-13 at Cherry Blossom Classic in Fairfax, Va.
LAST OUTING
Akron went 2-4 at the Rebel Spring Games on March 6-8. During the six-game tourney, sophomore 3B Alyssa Nicholas was the Zips' top hitter (.421) with eight hits, including two doubles and a home run, and five RBI. Senior SS Kellie Roudabush followed (.353) with six hits and an RBI.
On the mound, junior RHP Erin Seiler (2-3 record on the weekend) threw 34.0 innings for a 2.65 ERA, striking out 41 batters and walking seven.
MAC HONORS
Sophomore Alyssa Nicholas was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week for the East Division on March 10.
At the Rebel Spring Games over the weekend, the third baseman was the Zips' top hitter (.421) with eight hits, including two doubles and a home run, and five RBI. Against Presbyterian, Nicholas hit a two-out home run, her second homer this season, to give the Zips a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth. In the 5-3 win over Creighton, Nicholas put Akron on the scoreboard with a RBI single in the second. She brought in the team's final run in the fifth with an RBI double.
On the season, Nicholas is Akron's top hitter (.321), starting all 19 games. She has 18 hits, including three doubles and two home runs, and a team-best 12 RBI.
The MAC honor is the first for Nicholas. She is the second Zip to be honored this season. Junior Erin Seiler was named the MAC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 17.
TWO WINS & COUNTING . . .
Akron head coach Julie Jones is just two wins away from 200 wins as the Zips' head coach. In her ninth season, her UA record is 198-229-1.
MAC LEADERS
As of March 4, Akron junior RHP Erin Seiler leads all MAC pitchers in strikeouts (83), strikeouts looking (22), wins (6), and home runs allowed (0). She is second in innings pitched (58.1) and third in ERA (1.92). Senior Taryn Allmon and freshman Cassie Gillespie are tied for the most sacrifice bunts (7).
UP NEXT
Following the Cherry Blossom Classic, Akron will take a 12-day break before opening Mid-American Conference play with a doubleheader at Western Michigan on Friday, March 27.
