The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Davidson
Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Davidson
March 14 | Baseball
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Box Scores (PDF): Game one | Game two
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Starting pitcher John Valek III led the Zips to a 3-2 victory over Davidson in game one on Saturday while the University of Akron baseball team fell 7-3 in game two to split its series-opening doubleheader at Wilson Field.
The Zips (8-6) got off to a scoring start in both games. Junior outfielder Daulton Mosbarger knocked a solo home run to lead off each contest and give Akron an early advantage.
In game one, junior Kris Simonton and sophomore Dom Iero followed the solo bomb with back-to-back RBI singles up the middle for a 3-0 Akron lead in the top of the first.
Valek (2-1) then kept the Davidson (8-5) offense at bay, posting three scoreless innings before Davidson plated a run on a fielder's choice RBI in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-1.
"Valek bounced back very well from his two previous outings and pitched an outstanding game," head coach Rick Rembielak said. "We held firm at the end and kept the lead for the win."
The starter posted 6.0 innings pitched, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out one.
Davidson contested another run in the bottom of the eighth, but senior reliever Matt LaRocca took to the mound and posted a scoreless ninth for his third save of the season. Mosbarger also contributed a scoreless inning as the pitching staff held Davidson to seven hits.
UA out-hit the Wildcats, 10-7, with a 3-for-4, one RBI performance from Simonton. Iero, Mosbarger and sophomore James Meeker III finished the game with two hits apiece.
In game two, Simonton followed Mosbarger's lead-off homer with his second RBI single of the day for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Davidson responded with a run in the bottom of the first and two more in the second frame off a two-run single. With two runners in scoring position in the second inning, starting pitcher JT Brubaker (1-2) avoided further damage by delivering a pair of strikeouts.
Brubaker threw 4.0 innings in the contest, giving up six hits and three runs. The junior walked five and struck out five.
"We didn't work ahead of hitters enough and didn't make them uncomfortable enough in the box," Rembielak said.
The Wildcats then managed another pair of runs in the fifth inning for a 5-2 advantage before freshman Josh Lapiana pitched two scoreless innings. Davidson posted its third two-run inning in the bottom of the eighth to seal the 7-3 victory and halt UA's season-best three-game win streak.
In the twinbill, Simonton led UA at the plate, going 4-of-8 with two RBI, despite Akron being out-hit 12-8 in an errorless game two.
"Our challenge is to be prepared and play our best game of the weekend in all phases tomorrow to clinch the series," Rembielak said.
The Zips and Wildcats conclude the three-game series Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. game at Wilson Field.
