Akron Falls To Kansas and Stetson On Day Two Of Lead-Off Classic

Saturday, February 10

DeLand, FL

1:30 PM

University of Akron

0-3

University of Kansas

3-1

Akron

Kansas

Photo by: Todd Drexler

Akron Falls To Kansas and Stetson On Day Two Of Lead-Off Classic

February 10 | Softball

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Game One: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
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DeLand, Fla. -- Day two of the Stetson Lead-Off Classic came to end this evening in DeLand, Fla, with Akron falling to Kansas, 4-1, and tournament host Stetson, 10-1, at the Patricia Wilson Softball Field.

Just like on day one of the Lead-Off Classic, the JayHawks got on the board in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Kansas managed three singles and a walk which resulted in the pair of runs.

The Zips cut into the Jayhawks lead with a run of their own in the top half of the second inning thanks to junior Maddy Clowdus (Eastvale, Calif.). Clowdus, who made her Akron debut against Kansas in a pinch-hit situation, recorded her first hit and RBI in a Zips uniform to drive in sophomore Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio) after she singled earlier in the inning.

The Jayhawks added to their lead in the third inning in their next at-bat of the third inning. The first five batters for Kansas reached base safely starting the rally. With runners on first and second, Becki Monahagn reached safely on an error by the Zips allowing the first run to score. In the next at-bat, Brynn Minor singled down the left field line bringing home the Jayhawks second run of the inning and fourth of the ball game.

In the final four innings of play, Akron recorded three hits and a walk, but could not score and left all four base runners stranded.

Against Kansas, the Zips offense went 7-for-24 from the plate and was led by Holzman who went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a run scored. Six different Akron players recorded a hit including freshman Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio), redshirt junior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nevada), senior Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio), junior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.), and Holzman.

In the circle for the Zips, freshman Kayla Kmett (San Clemente, Calif.) received the first starting nod of her Akron career. Kmett (0-1) went 2.1 innings while surrendering four runs on seven hits and one walk. Senior Kooper Vertz (Dilsboro, Ind.) made her first appearance out of the bullpen in relief of 2018. The senior pitched a dominant 3.2 innings allowing just two hits and walked one.

In game two, the Stetson offense came to play against Akron scoring 10 runs en route to a 10-1 win over the Zips in five innings of play. Ashley Smith, Lizzie Schubert, and Devin Lewis drove in all ten runs for the Hatters on Saturday hitting a combined 5-for-9.

For Akron, junior Laura Lakins (Akron, Ohio), redshirt freshman Sydney Jascoe (Merreta, Mich.), Wulf and Rodriguez each tallied a hit in a combined eight at-bats.

Freshman Mikayla Newland (Chillicothe, Ohio) made her second start of the weekend against Stetson on Saturday. The freshman righty tossed 2.0 innings, gave up five hits, five runs. Vertz entered the contest in the third inning for the Zips, her second relief appearance of the evening. Vertz pitched 3.0 innings, gave up five runs on five hits and walked five.

The Hatters struck for five runs in the first two innings of the contest. Schubert hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning before Smith cleared the bases with a one out, three RBI triple in the second.

The Zips cut into the Stetson lead with one run in the bottom half of the third inning, trimming the advantage to 5-1. Rodriguez led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield and preceded to steal second. The Akron second baseman was moved over to third after Gambone grounded out to second and was then driven home by a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Lakins.

That would be the extent of the Akron offense, recording just one hit in the final two innings of play, while Stetson added five more insurance runs to push the lead past the NCAA run rule to end the game after five innings.

Akron closes out play at the Stetson Lead-Off Classic on Sunday, Feb. 11, at noon when the Zips take on the College of Charleston at the Patricia Wilson Softball field in Deland, Fla.