The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Northern Illinois
Baseball Sweeps Northern Illinois in Doubleheader on Saturday
April 11 | Baseball
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Box Scores: Game One | Game Two
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team opened the weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Mid-American Conference opponent Northern Illinois on Saturday at Lee R. Jackson Field by scores of 4-1 and 6-2.
The Zips improved to 15-16 overall and 7-4 in conference play while NIU fell to 13-20 overall and 4-7 in league action.
In game one, starting pitcher John Valek III (4-3) allowed two hits and one run over 8.0 innings pitched to keep the Huskies at bay.
Game two starter JT Brubaker (4-3) followed with a strong performance as the junior picked up a career-high 11 strikeouts without walking a batter. The right-hander tossed 7.0 innings and allowed four hits and two runs, one earned.
Brubaker combined with redshirt sophomore reliever Evan Jensen to post a season-high 13 strikeouts with no walks in game two. The 13 fanned batters is the most the Akron pitching staff has posted since they fanned 13 against Chicago State in 2011.
Meanwhile, redshirt senior infielder Matt LaRocca, sophomore catcher Brian Lees and junior infielder Billy Salem led Akron's offense in the twinbill.
After three scoreless innings in game one, each team scored all of its runs in the fourth frame.
Northern Illinois jumped on the board first for a 1-0 lead in the top half of the inning.
Akron countered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of a Lees RBI single, a bases-loaded walk drawn by redshirt junior infielder Gerrad Rohan and a two-run single from LaRocca.
LaRocca led the Zips in game one after going 2-for-3 at the dish with two RBI. On the day, LaRocca went 4-for-7 with three RBI and one run scored.
LaRocca moved over to the mound to pitch the bottom of the ninth and also earned his sixth save of the season and struck out one batter.
Behind Brubaker's quality start, the Zips posted 10 hits and defeated the Huskies, 6-2, in game two.
Salem issued a 3-for-4 performance in the victory while LaRocca went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Lees also posted a two-hit game to extend his hit streak to 10 games. The catcher went 3-for-7 with four RBI total on the day, including a three-RBI showing in game two.
Akron struck first in game two after redshirt freshman Mason Mamarella crossed on an NIU error.
An RBI double from LaRocca tacked on a run in the fourth before Lees and redshirt senior outfielder Joey Havrilak clubbed RBI hits to help Akron to a 4-0 advantage in the fifth.
Northern Illinois scored one run in both the sixth and seventh innings before Lees added a two-out, two-RBI single for the 6-2 result.
Overall, Akron out-hit the Huskies, 5-3, in game one and posted one error. UA posted three miscues to the Huskies' one, and out-hit NIU, 10-6, in game two. The Zips stole six bases on the day led by Mamarella with three.
The Zips return to action on Sunday for the series finale against MAC West foe Northern Illinois at Lee Jackson Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
