The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Softball Set for Final Home Stand of the Year
April 28 | Softball
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This Week
Akron softball plays host to the top team in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference, the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, in the Zips last home series of the 2016 season. The Zips will look to defend their home field on Friday, April 29 with one game beginning at 3 p.m. On Saturday, April 30, Akron and Miami (Ohio) play in the Zips annual 'Strike Out Cancer' day in double header action at 1 p.m. Prior to the contests, seniors Erin Seiler and McKenzi Rhodes will be honored for senior day.
A Look Back
The Zips cruised through a double-header against non-conference opponent Niagara on April 19 with back-to-back shutouts, 2-0 and 8-0, over the Purple Eagles. In a three-game weekend series with MAC East opponent Bowling Green, the Zips started off hot with a 5-0 win but struggled in the final two games of the series and fell, 9-5 and 5-3, to the Falcons.
A trio of Zips' players combined 12 RBI last week. Gabrielle Fredericks, Taylor Kirian, and Carley Childress all knocked in four RBI apiece to lead the offensive efforts. Kayla Schlosser posted a team-high .556 batting average going 5-for-9, including a perfect 3-for-3 against BG in Akron's win.
Erin Seiler and Paige McMenemy earned starts this week against the Purple Eagles and Falcons. McMenemy made her fourth start of the year against Niagara (4/19) and was spectacular in the circle for the Zips. The sophomore recorded her first career complete game shutout in a 8-0 victory. McMenemy tossed six innings, gave up just four hits and struck out two. Seiler got the starting nod in the Zips four other contests. She posted a 2-2 record in 24 innings of work including three complete games. The Zips ace gave up 20 hits, eight runs (six earned), while striking out 15.
Scouting Miami (Ohio)
Miami (Ohio) enters the contest with Akron as the top team in the East Division of the Mid-Amercian Conference with a MAC record of 11-5 and overall 26-19 record. The RedHawks are coming off a weekend series with Ohio and dropped two of three games. Miami (Ohio) has also lost its last five of their last six contests heading into the weekend series with the Zips.
Taylor Shuey is the offensive catalyst in the RedHawks lineup as she a top numerous hitting categories in the MAC. Shuey leads the conference in batting average (.415), hits (59), doubles (13), ranks second in triples (3), total bases (102), and ranks third in slugging percentage (.718), and RBI (41). Miami also has a trio of players who have all totaled over 30 RBI, Johniann Wahl (34), Lauren Anderson (33), and Michaela Schlattman.
On the rubber, Amber Logemann has posted 16 of the RedHawks 26 wins this year. In 34 appearances and 21 starts, Logan has pitched 12 complete games and totaled 154.1 innings of work. She has given up 145 hits, 72 runs, 58 earned, struck out 127, while her opponents are hitting .241. Carly Mortensen and Kelsey Fredericks have picked up six and four wins, respectively.
Seiler Tracker
Through 42 games of the 2016 season, senior Erin Seiler has set career program records. The Zips pitcher is now the program leader in career wins (81), appearances (159), complete games (111), and innings pitched (934.2), as well as numerous other categories she set last year.
Nationally she ranks 2nd in shutouts (9), 6th in wins (22), 14th in strikeouts (197), and 23rd in ERA (1.56). In her career she has pitched 934.2 innings, the NCAA record for innings pitched in a career is 1,448 set by Monica Abbott from Tennessee (2004-07).
What's next
Akron softball concludes the regular season next weekend against cross-town rival Kent State. The Zips will travel up the road to Kent, Ohio, for a three-game weekend series on May 5-6. The two teams will play one game on Friday, May 5 at 3 p.m. and are scheduled for a twinbill at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 6.
