Akron Falls In Pair Of Games On Day Two Of Mercer Tournament

Saturday, February 24

Macon, Ga.

11:45 AM

University of Akron

1-11

Drexel University

2-3

Akron

Drexel

Photo by: Todd Drexler

Akron Falls In Pair Of Games On Day Two Of Mercer Tournament

February 24 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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Game One: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

MACON, Ga. – The University of Akron softball team squared off with Drexel and Eastern Kentucky on day two of the Black and Orange Challenge hosted by Mercer but dropped both contests against the Dragons (11-3) and Colonels (7-1) on Saturday in Macon, Ga.

After Saturday, Akron fell to 1-12 on the season, while Drexel improved to 2-3 and Eastern Kentucky stands 7-5.

Drexel wasted no time getting on the board in its first at-bat of the afternoon. Back-to-back base knocks for the Dragons with a runner on second earned Drexel a 2-0 lead heading into the second inning.

Akron's most efficient offensive half inning of the year thus far helped the Zips regain control of the game and take their first lead in the top half of the fourth inning. Junior Maddy Clowdus (Eastvale, Calif.) sent a towering shot out to left field for her first dinger as a Zip to cut the Dagons lead in half, 2-1.

The inning continued for the Zips as freshman Kayla Kmett (San Clemente, Calif.) stepped to the plate with runners on first and third. Kmett ripped a single through the left side scoring senior Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) from third and senior Jenna Jones (Fulton, Ill.) scored all the way from first base to give Akron a 3-2 advantage.

The Dragon's answered Akron's big inning with one of their own in the bottom half of the fourth to regain a 7-3 lead. Drexel put five runs on the board courtesy of four hits and two errors but the Zips.

Freshman Mikayla Newland (Chillicothe, Ohio) made the start for the Zips while senior Kooper Vertz (Dilsboro, Ind.) came out of the bullpen in relief. As a staff, the duo surrendered 12 hits and six earned runs.

Akron totaled six hits in the game courtesy of Clowdus, Gambone, redshirt freshman Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.), junior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nevada), sophomore Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio), and freshman Kayla Kmett (San Clemente, Calif.).

In game two, Eastern Kentucky scored at least one run in the first four innings en route to a 7-1 win over the Zips.

A pair of runs in the first and second inning for the Colonels earned EKU a 4-0 run after two innings of play.

The Zips cut the deficit to three runs in the top of the third inning when Jascoe brought in her second RBI of the weekend thanks to a sacrifice fly to centerfield making the score, 4-1.

One run in the bottom half of the third and two in the fourth inning is all the Colonels would need en route to the win over Akron.

The Zips close out the Orange and Black Challenge hosted by Mercer on Sunday, Feb. 25, against Drexel at 11 a.m.