Zips Close Out Play at Lead-Off Classic With Extra Inning 5-4 Loss to College of Charleston

Sunday, February 11

DeLand, FL

12 PM

University of Akron

0-5

College of Charleston

3-1

Akron

Col. of Charleston

Photo by: Todd Drexler

Zips Close Out Play at Lead-Off Classic With Extra Inning 5-4 Loss to College of Charleston

February 11 | Softball

Box Score

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DELAND, Fla.- The University of Akron softball team fell to College of Charleston, 5-4, in extra innings on the final day of action at the Lead-Off Classic on Sunday afternoon at Patricia Wilson Field.

The Zips stand 0-5 overall, while the Cougars improve to 3-1 on the season.

The game remained scoreless through 4.5 innings until the Cougars used an RBI single to center that got them on the board and took a 1-0 lead.

Akron answered back in the top of the sixth inning when redshirt junior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, NV) stole third putting herself in position to score. Senior Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio) came up big in a pinch-hit situation and drove Rodriguez home with a single to third, which tied the game at 1-1. Neither team was able to come up with a run in the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings.

The Zips gained the lead in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on second and third, redshirt freshman Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.) singled through the left side bringing home junior Sabria Bruton (Palmetto, Fla.) that put Akron ahead, 2-1. Charleston tied the game with an RBI single to right in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the top of the ninth innings, a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio) moved Jascoe to third that put the Zips in position to take the lead. With one out and runners on second and third, senior Jenna Jones (Fulton, Ill.) hit a sacrifice fly out to left field that scored Jascoe and gave Akron a 3-2 advantage.

The Cougars again were able to tie the game again and force a 10^th inning courtesy of an RBI single through the middle, which made it 3-3.

Akron's offense continued to roll when junior Laura Lakins (Akron, Ohio) drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single up the middle allowing sophomore Madison Carter (Newnan, Ga.) to score from third which gave the Zips a 4-3 lead.

With Akron leading 4-3, the Cougars were able to close out the game in walk-off fashion with a two-run homer to left field, securing the 5-4 victory.

In the circle, freshman Mikayla Newland (Chillicothe, Ohio) (0-3) went the distance and pitched her second complete game (9.1 innings), fanning seven, and walking just two batters.

Jascoe led the Zips' bats going 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Akron collectively recorded eight hits in the contest.

Following the tournament, Lakins and Jascoe were named to the All-Lead-Off Classic team for their performances throughout the weekend.

Akron returns to action next weekend at the Alabama State Black and Gold Tournament in Montgomery, Ala., on Feb. 16-17. The Zips will face Middle Tennessee State University, Fort Wayne, and tournament host Alabama State during the three-day tourney.