Drapola's Home Run In The Fourth Lifts Akron To 1-0 Shutout Over Georgia State

Saturday, February 22

Mercer, Ga.

2:30 PM

University of Akron

5-8

Georgia State University

3-9

Akron

Georgia State

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Drapola's Home Run In The Fourth Lifts Akron To 1-0 Shutout Over Georgia State

February 22 | Softball

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MERCER, Ga.– With one swing of the bat, freshman Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio) handed the Akron softball team a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning off her third home run of the season and that is all the Zips would need to shutout Georgia State, 1-0, on day two of the Mercer Tournament at Sikes Field on Saturday afternoon.

"It was nice to play a close game and come out on top. Our first combine shutout for the pitching staff so we are taking steps in the right direction," said head coach Meaggan Pettipiece.

Inside the circle, the Zips tossed its first combined shutout of the season with redshirt sophomore Alexa Difeo (Akron, Ohio) and senior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) sharing the workload against the Panthers. Difeo made her fourth start of the campaign and was effective on the rubber not allowing a run on two hits and two K's. Smith who entered the contest in the fourth, closed the door on Georgia State limiting the Panthers to one hit and struck out four to pick up her third win of the season.

For the game, Drapola and freshman Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) accounted for the Zips two hits. Stevens recorded the first hit of the game with a double down the left field line in the top of the first inning.

Three innings later, Drapola smacked her home run and the Zips pitching staff did all the work from there.

Akron is back in action to close out the Mercer Tournament from Sikes Field on Sunday, Feb. 23, as the Zips take on Bryant at 9 a.m.