The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (Ohio)
Zips Beat RedHawks, 3-2, on Pinch Hit Single by Hysong
April 29 | Softball
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AKRON, Ohio – After Miami (Ohio) tied up the game in the top of the sixth inning at two, freshman Kelly Hysong (Canton, Ohio) pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and blooped a RBI single into short left field for the eventual game winning run Friday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.
Akron improves to 27-20-1 overall and 9-7-1 in Mid-American Conference play and picks up a game on top seed Miami (Ohio) who now stands at 26-20 and 11-6 in the MAC.
Senior Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) turned in another spectacular day inside the circle for the Zips. The righty (23-15) tossed her 29th complete game of her senior year, allowed just three hits, two runs and fanned seven RedHawk batters.
After being held scoreless in the first two initial innings of the contest, the Zips strung together a couple hits and claimed a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, junior Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) drove a long fly ball to opposite field for a solo home run, her tenth of the year. Freshman Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio) and Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio) knocked out back-to-back doubles with two outs to bring home another run for the Zips. Kirian recorded her 21st RBI of the year with her double to left field.
Seiler cruised through the next two innings setting Miami (Ohio) down in order in back-to-back innings and had a pair of strikeouts.
The RedHawks found a little momentum in the top of the sixth inning and with bases loaded, Miami's Johniann Wahl singled on a soft hit ball up the middle to short center field allowing two runners to score to knot up the game at two.
Akron was not phased by the result of the top half of the sixth inning and came out swinging in the bottom half of the inning with a lead off double to left field by Piper. Junior Carley Childress and sophomore Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) each followed Piper's double by taking one for the team and were hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hysong was called upon to pitch hit for sophomore Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio). In her first at-bat in a little over a month, the freshman came through with a single to score the go-ahead run.
Seiler returned to the circle in the seventh inning to close out the game and put the RedHawks down 1-2-3 to secure the victory.
Akron returns to action tomorrow, April 30, for a double-header with Miami (Ohio) starting at 1 p.m. The contest between the Zips and RedHawks is Akron's annual Strike Out Cancer Day and the Zips seniors will be honored prior to the game for senior day.
