The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Coastal Carolina
Baseball Posts 12 Hits in 17-9 Loss to Coastal Carolina
March 06 | Baseball
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CONWAY, S.C. – The Zips recovered from an early 8-2 deficit with a game-tying six-run fifth inning before Coastal Carolina delivered a big inning of its own to defeat the University of Akron baseball team, 17-9, on Friday night at Springs Brooks Stadium in the first game of the Coastal Carolina Invitational.
"It was the second-straight outing where John Valek III hasn't worked ahead of hitters, but even though he struggled early, he kept battling through and gave us five-plus innings," head coach Rick Rembielak said. "Our offense got us back in the hunt with the six-run fifth but we didn't execute well out of the bullpen. It was nice to see three guys in the lineup with a multi-hit game."
After starting in his third game of the season, junior designated hitter Gerrad Rohan issued Akron's lone multi-RBI performance. He clubbed a two-run double that capped off the Zips' six-run fifth inning to tie the game at 8-8. His double was one of five hits that the Zips registered in the frame, three of which were extra-base hits.
Junior outfielder Kris Simonton led after going 3-of-5 at the dish with one RBI. Sophomore Dom Iero and Junior Daulton Mosbarger posted two hits apiece in the affair while Mosbarger registered a game-high three runs scored.
Both teams got out to a strong start, with Akron posting two runs in the top of the first. The Chanticleers split eight runs over the next three innings for the early 8-2 advantage in the bottom of the third that would last until the Zips exploded for six runs in the fifth.
In the Zips' next turn at the plate following the six-run attack, senior outfielder Joey Havrilak knocked an RBI single up the middle to score Mosbarger from second and give Akron (5-5) its first lead of the game since the opening frame at 9-8 in the sixth inning.
The advantage was short-lived as Coastal Carolina (9-4) stole Akron's momentum, posting six runs in the bottom half of the frame, coming on five hits, including one home run, and a UA miscue. The inning put Akron behind, 14-9. CCU would go on to pad their lead with a three-run homer from junior catcher Casey Schroeder to keep the game out of reach.
Schroeder paced the Chanticleers' offense, ripping three of the team's four home runs and raking in six RBI.
The Zips ended the game one hit shy of its season-high mark of 13. Akron was out-hit for only the second time this season. The Chanticleers posted 14 hits to UA's 12.
The loss went to starter Valek (1-1), who pitched 5.1 innings and posted a scoreless fourth and fifth inning.
Freshman Josh Lapiana also contributed a scoreless inning of work for Akron, holding CCU to one hit in the seventh to limit the damage.
Akron returns to action on Saturday to take on Michigan State in the second game of the Coastal Carolina Invitational. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
