The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (Ohio)
Havrilak, Valek Shine in 7-4 Win over Miami (Ohio)
April 17 | Baseball
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Box Score (PDF)
AKRON, Ohio – Redshirt senior outfielder Joey Havrilak and junior starting pitcher John Valek III led the University of Akron baseball team to issue strong performances on both sides of the ball on Friday as it defeated Miami (Ohio), 7-4, at Lee R. Jackson Field.
With the win, the Zips improve to 18-17 on the season and 9-4 in Mid-American Conference play while also extending their home win streak to seven games. Miami's record falls to 6-28 overall and 4-9 in the MAC.
Left-handed starter Valek hurled 7.0 innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters to combine with relievers Evan Jensen and Matt LaRocca to register a season-high 14 strikeouts.
Valek (5-3) allowed just two runs, one earned, and served up just four hits while issuing the game's only walk en route to posting his second-straight win.
Akron distributed its runs across five different innings, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Joey Havrilak in the bottom of the third. It was the first homer hit by a Zip at Lee Jackson Field since a 2011 contest against Bowling Green.
Havrilak went 2-for-4 with a run scored in addition to his three RBI. Junior outfielder Kris Simonton also issued a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI.
In addition to Havrilak's three-run homer in the third, Akron peppered single runs across the first, fourth, sixth and eighth innings.
A Dom Iero sacrifice fly and a run-scoring opportunity on a Miami error combined with the homer to give Akron a 5-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Miami plated its first two runs in the top of the sixth. Junior infielder Billy Salem answered back with an RBI single in the bottom half of the frame for a 6-2 Akron lead.
Jensen then took over on the mound following Valek's exit. Two runs, one earned, crossed against Jensen between the eighth and ninth innings. The redshirt sophomore right-hander allowed two hits in 1.2 frames before LaRocca stepped in to pick up the final out, a strikeout, and earn his seventh save of the season.
Overall, Akron out-hit the RedHawks, 10-6. Miami was led by centerfielder Jake Romano who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while shortstop Ryan Elble collected two RBI.
Akron posted two errors while Miami had one.
The Zips and RedHawks return to action for game two of the three-game series on Saturday with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Lee Jackson field.
