The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Zips Softball Concludes 2016 Regular Season with 6-3 Loss to Kent State
May 07 | Softball
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Box Score
KENT, Ohio – In a back-and-forth showdown between Akron and Kent State until the fifth inning, the Zips end the 2016 regular season falling to the Golden Flashes, 6-3, after KSU broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning with two runs Saturday afternoon in Kent, Ohio.
"We would have really liked to come out and win this one today, but a few things didn't swing our way so now we have to put this game behind us," said head coach Julie Jones. "All season long we have been a bounce back team and we will continue that this week. We will practice hard the next few days, get our minds and bodies right, and hit the ground running on Wednesday."
The Zips ended the year with an overall record of 29-23-1 and 11-10-1 in Mid-American Conference play. Akron recorded their best overall record since the 2009 season (35-24). Kent State ended the year at 35-20 and 16-7 in MAC play and will be the number one seed going into the MAC tournament. The Zips are looking at a sixth seed in the tournament.
At the end of four innings at Diamond of Dix field, the box score looked identical with the score tied at three, five hits for both sqauds, and two runs in the first inning and one run in the fourth for each team.
Akron got the game going with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to claim a 2-0 advantage. Sophomore Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio) walked, freshman Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio) singled, and both moved up a base on a passed ball. Junior Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) grounded out to the shortstop in the next at-bat, but Kirian was able to sprint across the plate for an RBI. Sophomore Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) poked a RBI single up the middle for Akron's second run.
The Golden Flashes countered the Zips two run inning with one of their own. Following a pair of close calls that didn't go Akron's way, KSU's Shelbi Tilton singled right back up the middle and scored two runs.
The Zips shortstop, Piper, dug into the box to lead off the third inning and hit a long fly ball to left center field that landed over the fence for her first career home run. Again, Kent answered with a lead off solo shot of their own to tie the game up at three.
Each team put up zeros in the fourth inning and Akron went down in order in the top of the fifth inning, but the Kent State did not follow suit.
With runners on first and second the Golden Flashes Michelle Duffy drove a deep fly ball to left field that was out of the reach of the Zips left fielder and cleared the bases for a two RBI double.
KSU added an insurance run in the sixth inning to help secure the victory from a solo home run.
Offensively for the Zips, Piper and Gambone each knocked in a pair of hits going a combined 4-for-7 with two RBI.
In the circle, senior Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) made her 39th start of the year for the Zips and tossed five innings. The senior surrendered five runs on seven hits, and struck out two. Sophomore Paige McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) pitched an inning of relief and gave up one run on one hit.
The Zips will be in postseason action on Wednesday, May 7, in the 2016 MAC tournament at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. Official word on seeding and start times will be announced later this evening.
