The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Zips Swept By Eastern Michigan, Drop Series 2-1
March 26 | Softball
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Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game two)
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AKRON, Ohio – Akron softball gets swept by Eastern Michigan in an afternoon double-header, 11-5 and 3-1, in the first Mid-American Conference weekend series of the 2016 season on Saturday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.
With the pair of losses, the Zips fall to .500 through 30 games at 15-15 and 1-2 in MAC play while the Eagles improve to 11-16 (2-1 MAC).
EMU and Akron battled back and forth in the first two innings of the initial contest. The Eagles opened the game up with three runs in the first inning. Akron countered EMU's first inning by putting four runs across the plate in the second inning. After the Zips loaded the bases with a single and a pair of walks, junior Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) put the Zips ahead, 4-3, with one swing of the bat with a deep fly ball to left field for a grand slam. The home run was the Zips' centerfielders fifth long ball of the year and 14th of her career.
From that inning on, the Zips only recorded five hits the rest of the game. Akron scored another run in the in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior Anna Tarpley (Jacksonville, Fla.) singled home sophomore Gabrielle Fredericks (New Philadelphia, Ohio) from third base following her lead off triple.
The Eagles on the other hand were very efficient from the plate in game one. EMU regained the lead in the fourth inning, 5-4, and did not look back from there scoring at least run in the final four innings of play and totaled 13 hits in the affair.
In game two of the twinbill with the Eagles, the game came down to wire.
EMU picked up where they left off in game one by scoring first in the contest after an error with two outs allowed the Eagles runner from third to score.
The Zips knotted up the game at one apiece in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Kelly Hysong (Canton, Ohio) led off the inning with a single out to left field. The freshman stole second base and quickly darted over to third on a throwing error by the first baseman. Junior Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) nailed a two out single into right field, driving in the run from third base.
Akron and EMU would stay at a dead locked tie for the next three innings with each starting pitcher finding their grooves in the circle. Each pitcher forced a three up and three down in the fourth and fifth inning.
But in the sixth inning, the Eagles managed to string together a couple hits and jump in front of the Zips, 3-1.
In Akron's final at-bats in the game, the Zips managed to get a runner on in both the sixth and seventh inning but would leave them stranded on the base path.
Senior Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) got the nod the pair of contests for Akron. In 11.2 innings of work, Seiler (13-10) gave up 13 hits, 10 runs (eight earned) while striking out seven and limited the Eagles to just two walks. Hysong pitched in relief of the senior in game one throwing one inning and gave up four runs on three hits. Sophomore Paige McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) toed the rubber for one inning as well giving up two hits and recorded one strikeout.
Up next, the Zips head 45 minutes north of Akron to Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, March 30, for a pair of games with the Vikings of Cleveland State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
