Adrian Smith Tosses Two Complete Game Shutouts As Akron Sweeps Niagara

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

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.– Junior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) pitched back-to-back complete game shutouts that included a one-hit gem inside the circle in game one as the Akron softball team swept its doubleheader against Niagara on Wednesday afternoon.

With the Zips 1-0 and 4-0 wins over the Purple Eagles, Akron improved to 10-25-2 overall on the season and concluded the road non-conference portion of its schedule. UA continued to dominate Niagara and won its 12^thand 13^thgames against the Purple Eagles, which includes 10 straight victories dating back to 2012.

On the day, Smith threw 14 innings, limited Niagara to just four combined hits and struck out 19 batters without allowing a walk. In game one, the Purple Eagles did not record a hit until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After setting a season-best nine strikeouts in a single-game in game one, Smith bested herself with 10 K's in the nightcap. The day also marked the first back-to-back complete-game shutouts in her Akron career.

The Akron offense scored five runs on 13 hits on the afternoon en route to a pair of W's. Junior Macky Mitchiner (Riverside, Calif.) led the offensive efforts for Akron and went 4-for-6 with an RBI. Sophomore Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio), junior Samantha Malik (Orlando, Fla.), and junior Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio) each recorded at least two hits against Niagara going a combined 7-for-20 including three RBI and three runs scored.

While Smith shined on the Rubber in game one allowing just one hit through seven innings of work, the Akron offense needed just one run to secure the win.

Akron's first hit of the ball game was a big one for the Zips as Malik lifted her fourth home run to centerfield to claim a 1-0 lead for UA.

From that point on, Smith controlled the game until the final out was secured.

Game two look a lot like game one but the Zips outscored the Purple Eagles, 4-0, on their way to the team's fifth shutout of the season.

In her second consecutive complete game, Smith allowed three hits and struckout a career-best 10 batters.

The Zips scored two runs in the third and two runs in the fourth. A pair of RBI singles by Wulf and Mitchiner got the Zips on the board in the third inning of the contest before junior Maddy Clowdus (Eastvale, Calif.) and Wulf for a second time drove in one run each with a second pair of RBI base hits.

With the four-run lead, Smith closed the books on the doubleheader and secured the win for Akron.

The Akron softball team is set for a big weekend full of Mid-American Conference play as the Zips host cross-town rivals, Kent State, in another rendition of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge at Lee Jackson Field on Saturday, April 20, starting at 1 p.m. The day also represents senior day for the Zips as well as Akron's annual Strike Out Cancer day.

The University of Akron Athletics

Adrian Smith Tosses Two Complete Game Shutouts As Akron Sweeps Niagara

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Players Mentioned

Maddy Clowdus

Jessie Holzman

Samantha Malik

Macky Mitchiner

Adrian Smith

Kayla Wulf

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