The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Ready for Five Game Homestand
March 21 | Softball
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Game Notes (PDF)
This Week
The Akron Zips are set for the 2016 home opener at Lee Jackson Field on Tuesday, March 22, against the visiting Youngstown State Penguins. Three days later, the Zips open Mid-American Conference play against the Eagles of Eastern Michigan on Friday, March 25.
A Look Back
Akron struggled to get anything going offensively being held to six total hits in a double-header against the Dayton Flyers on March 20.
Sophomore Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio) totaled a team-high two hits on the weekend for the Zips. Five other individual Zips' each tallied one hit against Dayton. Junior Carley Childress (Belknap, Ill.) has now reached base safely in 16 consecutive games. The Akron shortstop singled in game one against the Flyers and was hit by a pitch in her final at-bat in game two to keep the streak alive.
In the circle, senior Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) pitched extremely well this weekend and gave the Zips a chance to win but ended up 0-2. The senior pitched a combined nine innings posting an ERA of 1.56. Seiler surrendered just six hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out six. She held the opposing hitters to a .194 batting average.
Scouting Youngstown State
Under eighth-year head coach Brian Campbell, Youngstown State stands at 7-10 entering the twinbill with Akron. The Penguins have dropped four straight and five in the last six contests played while their previous four games were canceled due to weather.
Youngstown State has a big bat in Miranda Castiglione with a .487 average. She is tied for a team-high 19 hits, and has recorded 14 runs scored and 10 runs batted in. Maria Lacatena is just as dangerous and has connected on a team-high four long balls and a team-high 19 RBI.
Caitlyn Minney has picked up six of the Penguins seven wins in the circle for Youngstown State. In 15 appearances and eight starts, Minney has posted a 5.50 ERA in 56 innings pitched, giving up 50 runs on 64 hits. The Penguins starter has been a little wild on the mound with a 35-to-51 strikeout to walk ratio. Paige Geanangel won Youngstown States seventh game and holds a 1-5 record on the year. Geanangel owns a 6.93 ERA surrendering 46 runs on 61 hits. Opposing teams are hitting .374 against her this year.
Akron and Youngstown State have squared-off 74 times since 1980. The Zips hold an all-time series record against the Penguins, 49-25. Akron traveled to Youngstown, Ohio last year to play the Penguins and the teams split the double-header 1-1. The Zips defeated Youngstown State 3-1 and dropped a decision 6-3. In Akron's win, Savannah Fruin went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Erin Seiler tossed a complete game four hitter while striking out 13 Penguin batters.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan currently holds a 9-14 overall record through 23 games in the 2016 campaign. The Eagles are set for a lone game against Notre Dame before the opening weekend of Mid-American Conference play against the Zips.
Recording a team-best .404 average and team-high 23 hits for Eastern Michigan is Abi Clark. She has tallied five doubles and two home runs while driving in nine runs. Michelle Kriegshauser owns a team-best 16 RBI on 22 hits and has also scored 10 runs.
In the circle for the Eagles, Nicolle Miranda has posted a team-best four wins and is 4-8 overall. In 69.2 innings of work, Miranda has surrendered 65 runs on 75 hits and holds a 5.02 ERA while opposing hitters have recorded a .260 batting average off of her.
The Zips and Eagles go head-to-head for the 47th time in program history this weekend. Akron holds the all-time series advantage with a 29-18 record. At home, the Zips also have seen success over EMU with a 13-8 all-time record on their home diamond.
Seiler Tracker
Through 25 games of the 2016 season, Seiler has set career program records. The Zips pitcher is now the program leader in career wins (71), appearances (140), complete games (96), and innings pitched (818).
2016 Season Honors
Erin Seiler won Pitcher of the Week for two straight weeks by the Mid-American Conference (March 1 & 9) and recently the MAC Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on March 15. Savanna Fruin also won the College Sport Madness Player of the Week earlier this month. (March 1).
What's next
Akron is set to travel up north to face-off against Cleveland State on Wednesday, March 30, in a non-conference double-header with the Vikings. The Zips then hit the road for a three game weekend series in Mount Pleasant, Mich. against the Chippewas of Central Michigan on April 1-2.
