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Late Game Double by No. 6 Ohio Deciding Factor in Pitching Dual, Drops No. 3 Akron, 3-1
May 11 | Softball
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AKRON, Ohio – A two out, two RBI double in the bottom half of the sixth inning was the deciding factor in a game dominated by pitching as No. 6 Akron fell to No. 3 Ohio, 3-1 in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Wednesday evening at Firestone Stadium.
The Zips fall to 29-24-1 overall on the year while the Bobcats improve to 34-21.
Two of the top pitchers in the MAC, senior Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) and Savannah Jo Dorsey battled inside the circle from the third inning on when Dorsey came in relief of the Bobcats starter. Seiler tossed a complete game, surrendered four hits, three runs (two earned), and struck out four. Dorsey picked up the win after throwing a one-hitter in 3.2 innings of work and struck out three.
Offensively the Zips posted five hits in the contest. Junior Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored the Zips lone run, while freshman Gabrielle Fredericks (New Philadelphia, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with an RBI single.
The No. 3 seeded Bobcats jumped out to an early lead in the bottom half of the initial inning of the first round game against the No. 6 seeded Zips. Ohio's Taylor Saxton reached on a fielder's choice, swiped second base, moved over to third on a ground out to the freshman Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio) and scored on an error on by the Zips.
The Zips did not trail for long as Akron came back in the top of the second inning to tie up the ball game at one. Fruin and junior Carley Childress (Belknap, Ill.) hit a pair of singles to put runners on first and second. Fredericks stood in the box with one out and poked a RBI single into left field and Fruin was able to score after being waved home.
After the second inning, the game was taken over inside the circle as Seiler and Dorsey who entered in the third inning battled back-and-forth. Only a combined three hits, one for the Zips and two for the Bobcats, were given up for three innings.
The Bobcats finally were able to get some offensive rhythm with two outs to break a deadlock tie in the in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ohio reached on a single and a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second. Four pitches later, Madison Claytor doubled down the right field line to clear the bases.
Despite being down two runs and in their last at-bats, the Zips continued to fight in the top half of the seventh inning showing they wanted to take the game away from the Bobcats. Fruin drew a seven pitch walk to lead off the inning and Fredericks singled to right field with two outs moving Fruin to third. But that's all the Zips would do stranding both runners on the base path.
Akron continues the 2016 MAC tournament tomorrow, May 11, at 6 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The Zips face the No. 7 seeded Toledo Rockets who lost in their first round contest to the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, 5-2.
