Akron Softball Drops Bryant, 4-1, On Final Day Of Mercer Tournament

Sunday, February 23

Mercer, Ga.

9:00 AM

University of Akron

6-8

Bryant

1-7

Akron

Bryant

Photo by: Mike Slade

Akron Softball Drops Bryant, 4-1, On Final Day Of Mercer Tournament

February 23 | Softball

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MERCER, Ga.– The Akron softball team closed out the 2020 Mercer Tournament picking up a 4-1 victory over Bryant behind a big day at the plate from junior Lauren Holdsworth (Howell, Mich.) and a two hitter inside the circle for the Zips at Sikes field on Sunday morning.

"This weekend we did a great job staying composed and working on all the components of our game. Including figuring out how to execute and win while manufacturing runs when we needed them. Everyday this team amazes me with their never ending fight," said head coach Meaggan Pettipiece.

After falling behind 1-0 in the third inning, Akron scored four unanswered runs to secure the Zips sixth victory of the young campaign.

Sophomore Lexie Petrof (Ligonier, Pa.) picked up her second win of the season after giving up just one run on two hits while striking out one, forcing five groundouts, and five flyouts. Senior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) entered the game in relief in the bottom of the fifth inning and slammed the door closed on the Bulldogs allowing no hits, no runs, and struck out five en route to earning a save.

Offensively, Holdsworth tallied a game-high two hits and one RBI. The freshman pair of Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio) and Maggie Sons (Dalzel, Ill.) each notched one hit in the affair.

Akron took its first lead of the contest in the top of the fourth inning. After two Zips reached in back-to-back at bats, a double by Drapola and walk by redshirt junior Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.), freshman Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) put a ball in play towards Bryant's second baseman who misplayed the ball that allowed Drapola to score from second. In the ensuing at-bat, Holdsworth singled right back up the middle driving in Jascoe and the go-ahead run.

The Zips added two insurance runs in the top half of the seventh to extend its lead to 4-1 and Smith put down the Bulldogs 1-2-3 for the win.

Akron heads back down to the Sunshine State to take part in the Jacksonville/North Florida Tournament on Feb. 28-March 1. The Zips are slated for five games in three days against Stony Brook, Jacksonville, North Florida and Purdue.