Akron Softball Begins Skyhawks Hampton Inn Classic With Pair of Losses

Saturday, March 16

Martin, Tenn.

10 AM

University of Akron

6-8-2

Green Bay

4-8

Akron

Green Bay

Photo by: Mike Slade

Akron Softball Begins Skyhawks Hampton Inn Classic With Pair of Losses

March 16 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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Game One vs. Green Bay: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two vs. UT Martin: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

MARTIN, Tenn.– On day one of the Skyhawk Hampton Inn Classic hosted by UT Martin, the Akron softball team fell to Green Bay and the Skyhawks at the Bettye Giles Softball Field on Saturday.

In the first contest of the Skyhawks Hampton Inn Classic, the Zips and Green Bay traded innings scoring en route to a 7-5 final score that went in favor of the Phoenix.

At least one run was scored by a team in six of the seven innings with the Zips scoring in the first, sixth, and seventh inning while Green Bay tallied a score in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.

The Zips notched nine hits in the ballgame, edging the Phoenix, 9-to-8 in the statistical category. Individually, sophomore Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio) and senior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.) led Akron with two hits each going a combined 4-for-6 including an RBI by Crews. Five other Zips posted a hit in the contest against the Phoenix.

Junior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) tossed a team-high 4.2 innings of work and struck out a game-high five Phoenix hitters.

Akron got on the board first to stake an early 2-0 advantage after the first inning. With runners in scoring position, redshirt senior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.) scampered home to claim a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch. In the next at-bat, junior Samantha Malik (Orlando, Fla.) lifted a fly ball to right field with one out that allowed senior Sabria Bruton (Palmetto, Fla.) to dart home for the second run.

Green Bay battled its way back into the game and claimed a 6-2 lead over Akron after the fifth inning.

The Zips had work to do with two innings remaining in the tilt versus the Phoenix. Akron's comeback effort began in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Malik singled to left field and senior Laura Lakins (Akron, Ohio) doubled down the right field line to put two Zips in scoring position. Crews cranked an RBI single up the middle to score Crews Malik from third for the Zips lone run of the inning and cut the deficit to three runs (6-3).

An insurance run for the Phoenix in the bottom half of the sixth handed Green Bay a 7-3 advantage heading into the final inning of play.

Akron again managed a pair of runs in their final at-bats, but it would not be enough for the Zips falling 7-5. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.) launched her team-leading fourth home run to center field for a two-run home run.

In game two, the Zips fell for the second time on the day against UT Martin in a contest that saw the Zips score two runs in the fourth inning.

The Skyhawks earned their runs in the first, fourth, and sixth innings en route to its nine runs in the affair.

After falling behind 2-0 after the first inning, Akron tied the game at 2-2 in the top half of the fourth. With no outs and runners at first and second, Crews laid down a bunt and reached safely. On the play, the Skyhawks third baseman overthrew the ball that allowed junior Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio) and junior Madison Carter (Newnan, Ga.) to score on the play.

In the final four innings of play, UT Martin went on to score seven unanswered runs en route to the victory.

Jascoe, Malik, and Crews accounted for six of the Zips eight hits in the contest along with one hit by Holzman and junior Macky Mitchiner (Riverside, Calif.).

In the circle, three Zips tossed six innings of work against UT Martin giving up 13 hits, nine runs (eight earned), and struck out five.

Akron closes out tournament play in the 2019 campaign tomorrow, March 17, when the Zips once again take on Green Bay (10 a.m.) and UT Martin (Noon) at the Bettye Giles Softball Field.