The University of Akron Athletics
Softball Heads to WMU/NIU to Open MAC Play
March 26 | Softball
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GAMENOTES IN PDF
THIS WEEK
Akron softball opens Mid-American Conference play with a doubleheader at Western Michigan on Friday, March 27 at 1 p.m.
The Zips then travel to Northern Illinois. The first game is Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET). The teams meet again on Sunda, March 29, at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET).
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 12-11 overall after four consecutive wins en route to the Cherry Blossom Classic team title on March 15.
After 23 contests, senior 2B Kellie Roudabush (Hilliard, Ohio) is the Zips' top hitter, batting .313 with 20 hits, three doubles, and six RBI in 23 starts. Sophomore 3B Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) follows with a .304. She has a team-best 21 hits, four doubles, three home runs, and a team-best 17 RBI in 23 starts.
On the mound, 2014 MAC Pitcher of the Year Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) stands 12-6 after 120.1 innings of action. She's struck out a MAC-best 156 batters and walked 31 while throwing 17 complete games, including three shutouts.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos, under 15th-year head coach Kathy Leitke, stand 6-14 overall after a 8-2 loss at No. 4 Michigan on March 25. Senior OF Jenny Rohn is Western's top hitter, batting .362 with 21 hits, eight doubles, a triple, and nine RBI in 20 starts. On the mound, sophomore Erin Binkowski is 3-6 with a 4.23 ERA in 12 games. She's thrown 51.1 innings, fanning 20 batters and walking 11.
In series action, Western Michigan holds a 26-20 series edge over Akron sine the teams first met in 1988.
Last season in Akron, the Zips claimed two MAC wins, 6-2 and 10-2 (6 innings). Akron is riding a four-game winning streak over the Broncos. [complete series history is on the next page]
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies, under third-year head coach Chrsitina Sutcliffe, stand 13-13 overall after 6-3 win at Illinois State in eight innings. NIU hosts Ohio in a doubleheader to open MAC play on March 27 prior to hosting Akron. Sophomore C Kayti Grable is the top hitter at .463 with 38 hits, four doubles, six home runs, and a team-best 24 RBI in 26 starts. On the mound, freshman Keegan Hayes (7-5) has pitched 74.0 innings and has a 2.08 ERA. She's struck out 34 and walked 29.
Northern Illinois holds a 22-14-1 series advantage since first meeting Akron in 1991.
Last season, the teams met three times. During the regular-season, they split a doubleheader in Akron, with the Zips shutting out the Huskies, 2-0, before falling 9-4 in the second game.
In the MAC tournament, seventh-seed NIU claimed a 6-1 win over third-seed UA, eliminating the Zips for tourney play.
LAST OUTING
Akron went a perfect 4-0 at George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic en route to the team title on March 15. In the four-game tourney, three players hit .500, led by senior Kellie Roudabush with six hits, four runs, a double, and two RBI. Gambone had five hits, a run, and two RBI, while senior OF Sara Pearson had five hits, two runs, a home run, and two RBI.
On the mound, junior RHP Erin Seiler was the only hurler to see action. She went 4-0 for a 1.93 ERA in 28.0 innings of work. She struck out 32 batters and walked eight.
200 WINS FOR JONES
With their 6-3 win over host George Mason in the first day of action at the Cherry Blossom Classic, the Zips gave their head coach Julie Jones a very special honor– her 200th win at Akron. In her ninth season with the Zips, Jones stands 202-229-1.
MAC HONORS
For the second time this season, junior Erin Seiler was named the Mid-American Conference co-Pitcher of the Week for the East Division on March 17.
Over the weekend, Seiler pitched all 28.0 innings in four victories at the Cherry Blossom Classic over the weekend, helping the Zips to the team title. She went 4-0 for a 1.93 ERA.
In the win over Wagner, Seiler threw a one-hitter, complete game. She fanned 13 batters and walked none. In the first win over George Mason, she hurled her second victory came on the day. She struck out nine batters and walked two in 7.0 innings of action while giving head coach Julie Jones her 200th win at Akron. On Sunday against George Mason, Seiler threw a complete game. She struck out one and walked one. In the win over Georgetown, Seiler hurled her second victory on the day and fourth straight. She struck out nine batters and walked five in 7.0 innings of action.
Seiler also was recognized by the MAC on Feb. 17. Sophomore 3B Alyssa Nicholas was named MAC Player of the Week on March 10.
MAC POLL
Akron softball was selected to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division, according to a preseason poll conducted by the MAC head coaches.
Defending tournament champion Ohio was tabbed first, followed by Kent State, and the Zips. All received first-place votes.
In the West Division, the coaches selected Central Michigan as the preseason favorite.
In the 2015 MAC Tournament, to be held at Akron's Firestone Stadium on May 6-9, the coaches predicted that Ohio will repeat as tourney champion, followed by Ball State and Akron.
2015 MAC Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll
East Division West Division
1. Ohio (8) 1. Central Michigan (6)
2. Kent State (2) 2. Ball State (5)
3. Akron (1) 3. Northern Illinois (1)
4. Buffalo 4. Western Michigan
5. Miami 5. Toledo
6. Bowling Green 6. Eastern Michigan
Mac Tournament Champion: Ohio (5), Ball State (2), Akron (1), Buffalo (1), Central Michigan (1)
(first-place votes)
UP NEXT
Akron hosts St. Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday, March 31, at 3 p.m. in its home opener at Lee Jackson Field.
