The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Sacred Heart
Zips Take Two and Win Sixth Straight
March 05 | Softball
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Akron Zips softball team took both games at day one of the Rebel Spring games to win its sixth-straight contest against Sacred Heart, 3-2, and Niagara, 6-0, on Saturday afternoon in Kissimmee, Fla.
"I'm happy we could keep the momentum rolling. We could have scored a lot more runs than we did but I was happy we pulled the first game out," said head coach Julie Jones. "Erin (Seiler) pitched well enough to win and Kelly (Hysong) did a great job in the second game and keeping Niagara scoreless was big."
The Zips have now won eight of their last 12 games after today's pair of victories.
Akron completed its fourth come-from-behind win in the final inning of the first game at the Rebel Spring Games against Sacred Heart.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Zips were down to their last three outs.
Junior Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) drew a one out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Gabrielle Fredericks (New Philadelphia, Ohio) followed with a walk. Freshman Kelly Hysong (Canton, Ohio) sent a grounder to the shortstop but everyone was safe due to an error on the shortstop. Sophomore Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio) pulled a shot down the left field line allowing Nicholas to score the tying run and junior Anna Tarpley (Jacksonville, Ohio), who pinch ran, to score the winning run.
In Kirian's last two games, the right fielder has five RBI on three hits in seven at-bats.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of a solo shot to left field.
Junior Carley Childress (Belknap, Ill.) knotted up the game at one all by herself in the fourth inning for the Zips. The shortstop ripped a double to left-center field with two outs. During the next at-bat, Childress stole third and the throw was over thrown into left field allowing Childress to get up quickly and score.
Sacred Heart got a run back in the next half inning. The Pioneers hit a lead off double and moved the runner over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Sacred Heart took the lead off a double to right-center field, scoring the runner from second.
The Zips blanked the Purple Eagles of Niagara, 6-0, in the second game of Akron's two game series.
Junior Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) started out the scoring for the Zips when she stole home from third after Niagara attempted to throw out Frederick's at second.
Akron put three runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Nicholas walked to start the inning and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt and a single by Childress. The Zips attempted a double steal and Childress was tossed out at second while Nicholas took off for home and slide in safely. Hysong doubled in Kirian who singled and sophomore Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) later singled in the Zips pitcher.
An inning later, Akron scored two more runs to put the game out of reach. With the bases loaded Fredericks walked on five pitches and walked in a run. The next batter, Childress grounded out to her counterpart at shortstop but not before Fruin scored from third.
In the circle, senior Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) and Hysong each tossed a complete game on the day. Seiler picked up her seventh win of the year and Hysong won her first collegiate game. Akron's ace threw seven innings in Zips, 3-2, comeback win over Sacred Heart while striking out seven. The freshman shutout the Purple Eagles in seven innings, gave up seven hits and the Zips defense worked behind their pitcher to strand 11 runners on base.
Akron plays two more games at the Rebel Spring Games tomorrow, March 6, against Creighton at 9 a.m., and South Dakota State at 11:15.
