Zips Softball Drops Pair Of Games In 2018 Season Opener

Friday, February 9

DeLand, FL

1:30 PM

University of Akron

0-1

University of Kansas

1-0

Kansas

Akron

Photo by: Todd Drexler

Zips Softball Drops Pair Of Games In 2018 Season Opener

February 09 | 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)
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DeLAND, Fla. – Friday marked the 2018 season opener for the Akron softball team, but the Zips dropped a pair of contests to Kansas (5-3) and host Stetson (8-0) on day one of the Lead-Off Classic in DeLand, Fla.

"We have a lot of work to do and we have to stick to the process from today through the long season ahead," said head coach Julie Jones. "I saw some good things today and some things I didn't like but I am certain we can work together to go hard after every opportunity."

Game one went to Kansas thanks to a four-run sixth inning which pushed the game-winning runs across the plate for the Jayhawks for the 5-3 win.

In the top of the first inning, the Jayhawks got on the board first with a solo home run by Harli Ridling with two outs.

The Zips would counter Kansas' one-run inning with one of their own. In the bottom of the second inning, freshman Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio) stepped to the plate for her first at-bat in an Akron uniform and of her collegiate career. With two outs in the home half of the inning, Wulf smacked her first career home run over the left-center field fence to knot the game up at one.

The Akron offense continued to roll in the bottom of the third inning bringing in two more runs across the plate to claim a 3-1 lead. In the second at-bat for the Zips right fielder, sophomore Madison Carter (Newnan, Ga.), resulted in her first hit of the season with a single to second base. After the speedy Carter stole second base, senior Caitlin Gambone (Canton, Ohio) knocked in her first RBI of the year with a double out to left center scoring Carter from second. The next batter, sophomore Laura Lakins (Akron, Ohio), nailed a single back up the middle, which allowed Gambone to come around third and score for the second run of the inning.

The score would remain 3-1 in favor of the Zips for the next three innings until the top of the sixth. In the top half of the inning, Kansas managed two hits and two walks en route to putting four more runs on the board, resulting in the eventual, 5-3 win.

Akron's offensive efforts were led by Carter, Gambone, Lakins, and Wulf who went a combined 4-for-11 from the plate and drove in three runs.

Inside the circle in game one, freshman Mikayla Newland (Chillicothe, Ohio) made her collegiate debut for the Zips against the Jayhawks. Newland tossed a complete game and in seven innings of work gave up three earned runs on five hits, while striking out four and walking five.

Game two of the afternoon's doubleheader went to the host of the Lead-Off Classic, Stetson. The Hatters defeated the Zips, 8-0.

Stetson got on the board early and often in the contest scoring five runs in the first two innings. A pair of singles brought in three runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by three straight hits consisting of two singles and a double in inning number two to total five runs.

Three more runs were put on the board in the fourth (two runs) and fifth innings (one run) to give the Hatters an 8-0 advantage. When the eighth run crossed the plate for Stetson, the contest ended early due to the NCAA run rule in the fifth inning.

Akron managed just one hit against Stetson by redshirt freshman Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.) with a single to left field, while Zips left three runners on base in the top of the third inning.

Senior Kooper Vertz (Dilsboro, Ind.) made her first start of the 2018 season on the rubber for Akron. Vertz pitched 1.1 innings, gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits while walking one. Freshman Kayla Kmett (San Clemente, Calif.) made her Akron debut in the circle in relief of Vertz and pitched 2.2 innings, gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits.

On the day, seven players made their Akron debut either against Kansas or Stetson, including Newland, Kmett, Jascoe, Wulf, junior Sabria Bruton (Palmetto, Fla.), junior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nevada), and junior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.).

Akron is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 10, for day two of the Lead-Off Classic. The Zips have a pair of games scheduled for 1:30 p.m. against Kansas and at 6:30 p.m. versus Stetson.