Akron Blanks North Carolina A&T, 8-0, On Final Day Of Orange And Black Tournament

Sunday, February 24

Mercer, Ga.

1:15 PM

University of Akron

North Carolina A&T State

Akron Blanks North Carolina A&T, 8-0, On Final Day Of Orange And Black Tournament

February 24 | Softball

Box Score

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Game One vs. North Carolina A&T: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

MACON, Ga. – The Akron softball team scored a weekend-high eight runs and freshman Amaya Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) tossed her first career complete game shutout as the Zips went on to blank North Carolina A&T, 8-0, on the final day of the Orange and Black Tournament.

Smith, who made her second start of the season and seventh appearance overall, was lights out on the rubber against the Aggies. The freshman pitched five innings, allowed just four hits, no runs for her first solo shutout, struck out two, and walked one. With the win, Smith improved her record inside the circle to 2-2.

The Zips offense that was limited to just four runs the day before broke out for a big day at the plate versus NC A&T. In total, Akron recorded a game-high five hits and took advantage of 10 errors by the Aggies defense. Sophomore catcher Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio) continued to hit the ball well and led the Zips going 2-for-3 with two RBI and scored a run. Senior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.), junior Samantha Malik (Orlando, Fla.), and redshirt sophomore Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.) each tallied a hit in the contest along with four combined RBI and a run scored.

Akron did all of its damage in the first and second inning scoring four runs in each frame, but that is all the Zips would need on the day.

Wulfs first RBI of the day came in her first at-bat of the game as the sophomore doubled to right center field that scored redshirt senior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.). Junior Madison Carter (Newnan, Ga.) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Wulf, immediately stole third base and then scampered home on an inherent throw by the Aggies.

Crews came to bat later in the inning, now with two outs, and senior Laura Lakins (Akron, Ohio) and Malik in scoring position. The Zips right fielder ripped a double down the right-field line that cleared the bases and handed Akron a 4-0 lead.

After Akron opened the top of the first inning reaching on back-to-back North Carolina A&T errors, Jascoe tallied her 12th and 13th RBI of the season with a two-bagger down the left field line scoring Rodriguez and junior Macky Mitchiner (Riverside, Calif.).

Freshman Morgan Cadmus (Tecumseh, Mich.) entered the game as a pinch-runner for Jascoe and came around to score in the next at-bat on Wulf's second RBI double of the contest.

Following a stolen base by Wulf and a hit by pitch walk by Lakins, the Zips had runners at the corners. Head coach Julie Jones signaled for a double steal in which the Zips executed perfectly with Wulf and Lakins each reaching safely which included Wulf scoring from third.

After a weekend off of competition, the Akron softball team returns to the diamond to compete at the Morehead State tournament on March 9-10. The Zips are scheduled for three contests, all of which will be against the hosts, Morehead State.