The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Zips' Softball Splits Twinbill with Kent State
April 22 | Softball
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
AKRON, Ohio- In its final home twinbill, the Akron softball team split a pair of Mid-American Conference games with rival Kent State on Saturday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field. The Senior Class was honored before the game.
The Zips won the first game, 8-4, before falling 12-1 in five innings.
With the series win, Kent State earned one point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge, the 14-sport contest between the two rivals. Currently, Akron leads 5.5 to 4.5.
On the season, the Zips stand to 21-25 overall and 9-9 in MAC play, while the Golden Flashes improved to 9-24 overall and 9-9 in the league.
In the opener, KSU scored a run in the first, but Akron responded with four runs in the bottom of the second. Junior SS Jenna Jones (Fulton, Ill.) smacked a two-RBI double to left center field, scoring senior 2B Anna Tarpley (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior PR Kayla Schlosser (Erie, Pa.). Senior C Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) also hit a two-RBI double to left center, scoring Jones and junior OF Ashley Sims (Brookville, Fla.), who reached on a single.
The Zips added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Senior OF Savannah Fruin (Delray Beach, Fla.) doubled down the left field line, scoring Nicholas. Tarpley had an RBI single, scoring junior OF Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio), who reached on a fielder's choice. Sophomore 1B Laura Lakins (Akron Ohio) hit a two-RBI single to center, bringing home Tarpley and Kirian.
KSU added two runs in the top of the fifth and a solo run in the seventh for the final 8-4 score.
Freshman lefty Lexie Handley (Mogadore, Ohio) went the distance (17-14 overall) in the win. She struck out one and walked five.
In the nightcap, the Golden Flashes jumped out to a 12-0 lead, scoring three runs in the first, four runs in the second, three runs in the fourth, and two in the fifth.
UA scored a solo run in the bottom of the fifth before the game was called by the run-rule. Sims singled to left field, scoring Lakins who was hit by a pitch.
Junior RHP Kooper Vertz (Dilsboro, Ind.) took the loss for Akron. She pitched 1.2 innings, fanning two and walking two.
Akron closes out the last two weeks of the regular season with eight road games. The first stop is Niagara on Wednesday, April 26, with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
