Akron Sweeps Robert Morris In Home Finale

Tuesday, April 23

Akron, OH

3:00 PM

University of Akron

11-27-2

Robert Morris

13-31

Robert Morris

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

April 23 | 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)

AKRON, Ohio – For the final time at Lee Jackson Field in the 2019 Akron softball campaign, the Zips swept visiting Robert Morris, 5-3 and 12-3, in the last non-conference matchup of the regular season Tuesday afternoon on the campus of The University of Akron.

Heading into the final five games of 2019, Akron improved to 12-27-2 on the year and earned its second series sweep of the season, including back-to-back non-conference series sweeps. Robert Morris fell to 13-32.

Inside the circle, junior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) and sophomore Mikayla Newland (Chillicothe, Ohio) each tossed complete games en route to their eighth and first wins of the season, respectively. In game one, Smith threw her team-leading ninth complete game, gave up three runs on 10 hits, struck out five, and walked just three. In the nightcap, Newland went 5.0 innings for her first complete game of 2019, gave up eight hits, surrendered three runs, struck out a day-high six batters, and walked just one.

The Akron offense amassed 20 hits combined on the afternoon, including eight in game one and 12 in game two. Sophomore Lauren Holdsworth (Howell, Mich.) was the Zips top hitter in game one with a team-high two hits and an RBI while senior Laura Lakins (Akron, Ohio) drove in a team-best two RBI. In the following game, senior Maddy Clowdus (Eastvale, Calif.) had her best day at the plate in 2019 with three hits, one RBI, and two runs scored. Redshirt senior Kimberly Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.) was one of the top run producers in the contest with three runs scored on two hits which included a home run and two RBI double. Junior Macky Mitchiner (Riverside, Calif.) rounded out the multi-hit performers in the Akron lineup with two hits and three RBI.

Akron got out to a 3-0 lead in the first contest by way of an error by the Colonials right fielder, an RBI single by Lakins, and an RBI single through the left side of the infield off the bat of Holdsworth.

After RMU cut its deficit back to two runs (3-1), the Zips answered right back to reclaim a 4-1 advantage. With the bases loaded, Lakins was handed her second RBI of the with a walk.

The Zips added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Rodriguez launched a solo home run in the to left field, her sixth four-bagger of the season.

The Colonials scored a run in each the sixth and seventh inning to attempt a late-game comeback but was denied by Smith and the Akron defense.

Akron's bats came alive in the second contest of the afternoon en route to a 12-3 win for Akron in five innings due to the NCAA run rule.

Unlike game one, Robert Morris scored the first run of the game with a solo home run. Akron immediately answered to register its first lead of the game, 2-1, when Rodriguez lifted a two-RBI double to the fence in right centerfield.

In a back-and-forth contest, the Colonials struck for two more runs in the top of the third and reclaim the lead, now 3-2.

The Zips offense took over from there posting nine runs in the bottom of the third. Akron reached safely in 12 straight at-bats in the inning with the first two outs coming on the base path. The Zips nine runs came courtesy of six hits, two errors, and eight RBI.

Akron added an insurance run in the fourth inning to increase its lead to +9 after an RBI single up the middle off the bat of Mitchiner.

RMU threatened to keep the game alive in the top of the fifth but Akron closed the door on the game and the 2019 home season with a double play.

With five games remaining in the 2019 regular season, the Zips conclude the campaign on the road starting at Bowling Green on Saturday, April 27. UA heads to Bowling Green, Ohio, where a doubleheader awaits the Zips against the Falcons at Meserve Field starting a 1 p.m.