The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ohio
Zips Softball Splits with Ohio, Wins Weekend Series 2-1
April 16 | Softball
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Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game Two)
ATHENS, Ohio – In a day dominated by pitching from both squads, Ohio walks-off with game one in the bottom of the seventh inning, 2-1, but the Zips bounce back in game two and hold on to a 1-0 win to take the weekend series, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Ohio Softball field.
"We had the first game in our sights but fell apart in the seventh and handed them the game, that was disappointing," said head coach Julie Jones. "We struggled to score against a good Ohio pitching staff but we were able to string together a couple hits for a run to bounce back and win game two."
Akron now stands at 23-18-1 overall through 41 games and 7-5-1 in Mid-American Conference play. Ohio falls to 25-18 (7-7 MAC) after splitting the day.
Senior Erin Seiler (Bowlling Green, Ohio) received the starting nod for the second day in a row. The righty pitched 6.2 innings, allowed five hits, recorded 10 groundouts, seven fly outs and a strike out. Ohio's two runs scored with Seiler on the rubber were unearned. Entering the seventh inning of the contest, the Zips ace held the Bobcats to three hits.
Junior Carley Childress (Belknap, Ill.) broke a deadlock 0-0 tie in the top of the sixth inning with her first career home run in an Akron uniform with a long fly ball to left field to take a 1-0 advantage.
The Zips held a 1-0 lead heading into the Bobcats final at-bat. Seiler had shut down the Ohio offense for six innings and needed just three more outs to end the game but Ohio did not go quietly. Three errors on the Akron defense allowed Ohio to keep the inning alive and bring around two runners for a walk-off win, 2-1.
Just like game one, Akron scored first in the second contest of the double-header action. Freshman Gabrielle Fredericks (New Philadelphia, Ohio) doubled to lead off the top of the third and sophomore Kayla Schlosser (Erie, Pa.) followed with a bunt single to put runners at the corners. After Schlosser stole second, junior Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) singled in her 14th RBI of the year to give Akron a 1-0 lead.
Ohio averages 3.89 runs per contest in 2016 and the Akron pitching staff and defense held them to four runs in the three-game series and shut the Bobcats out in the final contest.
Sophomore Paige McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) got the start inside the circle for Akron in game two of the twinbill and picked up her second win in her third start of the season. McMenemy pitched three scoreless innings while allowing five hits and posted one strikeout. The sophomore was relieved in the fourth inning by Seiler. The senior made her fourth appearance out of the bullpen throwing four innings of scoreless softball to pick up her second save of the year.
The Zips return home to Lee Jackson field on Tuesday, April 19, for a double-header with non-conference opponent Niagara. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
