Akron Goes Toe-To-Toe With Ball State Before Cardinals Break Game Open Late In 14-6 Loss

Friday, March 22

Muncie, Ind.

3:00 PM

University of Akron

6-12-2, 0-1

Ball State

23-10, 1-0

Akron

Ball State

Photo by: Mike Slade

Akron Goes Toe-To-Toe With Ball State Before Cardinals Break Game Open Late In 14-6 Loss

March 22 | Softball

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MUNCIE, Ind.– In the opening contest of the 2019 Mid-American Conference season, the Akron softball team went toe-to-toe with Ball State before the Cardinals broke open the game late to capture a 14-6 win over the Zips on Friday afternoon in Muncie, Ind.

Akron now stands 6-12-2 on the season while Ball State improves to 23-10.

At the plate, the Zips scored six runs on eight hits in the ballgame against Ball State. Individually, redshirt sophomore Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.) posted a team-high three hits in the affair going 3-for-4 with a double, home run, run scored and an RBI. Redshirt senior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.) ended the game going 2-for-4 and a team-high two RBI, two runs scored along with a double and home run. Four additional Zips notched a hit.

Inside the circle, junior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) made her team-high 10^thstart of the season, pitched 2.1 innings gave up five runs on three hits, struck out three and walked four. Freshman Amaya Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) and redshirt senior Kooper Vertz (Dilsboro, Ind.) made a relief appearance for the Zips. s

Akron made quick work of the Cardinals in its first at-bats of the game. Jascoe ripped a one out double down the left field line. Junior Madison Carter (Newnan, Ga.) was entered into the game as a pinch runner and stole third. However, Carter was able to walk across the plate after Rodriguez lifted a two-out, two-run home run to left field, her third of the season.

Ball State's potent offense that is atop of the Mid-American Conference fired back scoring three unanswered runs in the first and second inning and claimed a 3-2 lead.

The Zips did not trail for long as Jascoe launched a solo home run to centerfield for her team-leading fifth HR and 16^thRBI.

Just three batters later with runners in scoring position, Akron regained the lead 4-3 after junior Jordan Crews (Waco, Ga.) smacked a line drive RBI single to right field. Redshirt senior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.) pushed the Zips lead to +2 (5-3) as she darted home on a passed by to the backstop.

Akron would not hold on to the lead for long as the Cardinals bounced back in the bottom half of the third inning and posted four runs on the scoreboard. Ball State took a 7-5 advantage into the fourth inning.

UA began chipping away at the Ball State lead and trimmed the deficit back down to one run, 7-6, in the top half of the fifth inning. The Zips had three straight Zips reach base safely by way of two errors and a fielder's choice. In the Cardinals attempt at turning a double play, the Ball State pitcher attempted to pick off junior Macky Mitchiner (Riverside, Calif.) off at first base and overthrew her teammate allowing Crews to score as a result of the play.

Ball State opened the game up in the fifth and sixth innings scoring a combined seven runs. The Cardinals pushed its lead to +8 (14-6) that handed Ball State the win after six and a half innings of play due to the NCAA run rule.

Akron and Ball State return to action on the diamond tomorrow, Saturday, March 23, as the Zips and Cardinals are scheduled for a doubleheader to conclude the opening weekend of MAC play.

Five Zips Named to the CSC Academic All-District® Softball Team

Tuesday, May 27

Four Akron players notch at least two hits in 5-4 loss to Ball State

Friday, May 09

MAC Tournament: Five Players Collect Multiple Hits in 6-4 Win Over NIU, Zips Advance to Friday

Thursday, May 08

MAC Tournament: Akron Falls to Ball State in Opening Game

Wednesday, May 07

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Ball State

L, 1-13

Mar 23 (Sat)

1:00 PM

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: VENKER, Sarah (11-2)

L: Smith, Amaya (2-5)

Akron

Batting:

2B: Wulf, Kayla 1 ; Jascoe, Sydney 1 ; Rodriguez, Kimberly 1

HR: Jascoe, Sydney 1 ; Rodriguez, Kimberly 1

RBI: Jascoe, Sydney 1 ; Rodriguez, Kimberly 2 ; Crews, Jordan 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Jascoe, Sydney 1 ; Carter, Madison 1 ; Bruton, Sabria 1 ; Rodriguez, Kimberly 2 ; Crews, Jordan 1

SB: Carter, Madison 1 ; Malik, Samantha 1 ; Bruton, Sabria 1 ; Crews, Jordan 1

HBP: Malik, Samantha 1

Ball State

Batting:

2B: PAYTON, Stacy 1 ; ECKERTY, Trinity 1 ; WYNN, Kennedy 1

HR: PAYTON, Stacy 1

RBI: DOMINIQUE, Haley 2 ; PAYTON, Stacy 5 ; FIELDS, Kendall 2 ; MCCARTY, Mackenzie 1 ; ECKERTY, Trinity 1 ; DEMNIANIUK, Hailey 1 ; WYNN, Kennedy 2

SH: MANUEL, Kim 1

SF: MCCARTY, Mackenzie 1 ; DEMNIANIUK, Hailey 1

Base Running:

RUNS: DOMINIQUE, Haley 2 ; PAYTON, Stacy 2 ; JANIGA, Katie 1 ; MCCARTY, Mackenzie 1 ; ECKERTY, Trinity 2 ; DEMNIANIUK, Hailey 1 ; CLANTON, Becca 1 ; HUFFMAN, Olivia 2 ; MANUEL, Kim 2