The University of Akron Athletics
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Kent State
Akron and Kent State Split Twinbill, Zips Secure Spot in MAC Tournament
May 06 | Softball
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Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game Two) | Video Highlights
KENT, Ohio – A tale of two contests at the Diamond of Dix in Kent, Ohio, today as Akron came out on top of a pitching dual, 3-0, in game one but Kent State took over late in game two to drop the Zips, 8-3, en route to splitting the afternoon affair.
Akron now stands at 29-22-1 overall on the year and holds a 11-9-1 record in Mid-American Conference play. Kent State owns a 34-20 overall record and sits at first place in the MAC East division at 14-7. The Zips secured a spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament with their win over Kent State in game one of the double-header.
Heading into the seventh inning of game one, Akron and Kent State were deadlocked at 0-0 and it seemed like the game was destined for extra innings. Both respective starters, Akron's Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) and Kent State's Ronnie Ladines, held no hitters through 6.2 innings before the Zips got their bats going in the top of seventh.
Seiler was sensational in the circle for the Zips in game one of the double-header as she carried a no-hitter through six innings before the Golden Flashes managed to record a two out single in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Akron ace faced just two batters over the minimum, struck out five and forced ten groundouts.
Akron got it going in the seventh after junior Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) reached on an error to lead off the top of the seventh inning and junior Anna Tarpley (Jacksonville, Fla.) drew a one out walk to put runners on first and second. With two outs, junior Carley Childress (Belknap, Ill.) entered the contest to pinch hit and sent a RBI line drive single up the middle and Fruin was waved around third and scored to claim a 1-0 advantage.
Akron pushed its lead to 3-0 one batter later when freshman Gabrielle Fredericks (New Philadelphia, Ohio) hit a pinch hit double to right center field scoring Tarpley from third and sophomore Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio from first.
Game two was the complete opposite result of the first game of the day with a combined seven runs coming in the first inning alone.
Junior Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) led off the game by reaching first on an error by the Kent State shortstop, moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt, and swiped third. Freshman Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio) shot a RBI line drive single back up the middle scoring Nicholas from third. With the bases all loaded up, Fredericks ripped a single up the middle, scoring sophomore Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) and Tarpley.
The Golden Flashes countered the Zips first inning by putting four runs on the board in the bottom half of the inning.
Kent State added two runs to increase its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of a solo home run and an RBI single.
Two insurance runs were added in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach for the Zips as they trailed 8-3.
After knocking out seven hits in the first three innings, the Akron offense was shut down for the remainder of the contest and posted just one hit in the final four innings.
Akron and Kent pick back up tomorrow, May 7, for the final contest of the regular season in Kent, Ohio. First pitch has been announced at noon.
