Akron Softball Drops A Pair In Season Opener Despite Late Offense

Friday, February 7

Homewood, Ala.

11 AM (12 PM ET)

University of Akron

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Eastern Illinois University

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Eastern Illinois

Akron

Akron Softball Drops A Pair In Season Opener Despite Late Offense

February 07 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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Game One vs. Eastern Illinois: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two vs. Winthrop: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The 2020 season opener is in the books as the Akron softball team's late-game comebacks fall short against Eastern Illinois (5-4) and Winthrop (5-3) at the Samford Softball Field on day one of the Samford Tournament Friday afternoon.

"I know the results weren't what we wanted and we didn't execute at the right times, yet the opportunities were there so that's what we will build on," said head coach Meaggan Pettipiece. "Looking forward to facing Winthrop again tomorrow and learning from our mistakes."

On the day, Akron recorded 16 hits, scored seven runs, and five Zips combined to drive in all five runs at the plate. The trio of junior Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio), freshman Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio), and senior Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio) combined to post nine hits (three each), four RBI, two doubles, and one home run. Additionally, redshirt junior Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.) went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and two walks.

Inside the circle, senior Adrian Smith (St. Clairsville, Ohio) and sophomore Lexie Petrof (Ligonier, Pa.) earned the starting nod inside the circle in games one and two. Smith tossed a two-hit complete game (7.0 innings) while striking out seven Panther hitters. Petrof went 3.1 innings and surrendered four runs on five hits. However, through the first three innings of the contest, the sophomore righty held Winthrop hitless, struck out a pair, and forced five groundouts.

Seven newcomers made their collegiate debuts including Shelby Fortune (Grafton, Ohio), Hailey Eckelberry (Medina, Ohio), Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio), Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio), Laurel Devoe (North Canton, Ohio), Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio), Alexa Difeo (Akron, Ohio), while Eckelberry, Drapola, DeVoe, Bryant, and Stevens tallied the first hits of their respective careers.

Game one went to Eastern Illinois, 5-4, as the Zips rally late in the ball game fell short by one run.

After the Panthers jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage on one swing with a grand slam, Smith settled in and would allow just one hit in the final six innings.

The Zips outhit EIU in the contest, 10-2, and outscored the Panthers 4-1 in the final three innings of play.

Akron got on the board in the fifth inning pushing three runs across the plate. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, Devoe placed a ball in play to the Panthers shortstop that allowed Wulf to score from third and Devoe to reach safely with an infield single. In the next at-bat, Holzman laced a bases clearing double into left center field scoring DeVoe and Bryant to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Eastern Illinois extended its lead back to +2 (5-3) in the top half of the fifth inning and the Zips bats went right back to work. Stevens first hit in an Akron uniform was an infield single, sophomore Morgan Cadmus (Tecumseh, Mich.) entered the game as a pinch-runner and swiped second base, and senior Macky Mitchiner (Riverside, Calif.) put runners on the corners for Akron with another infield single. Two batters later, Wulf singled up the middle driving in her first RBI of the season and made it a 5-4 ball game.

Akron had the game-tying and go-ahead runners on the base path with just one out in the bottom of the sixth, but the Zips ultimately stranded the pair and went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to drop game one.

More late offense for the Zips in game two again fell short as Winthrop claimed a 5-3 win over Akron.

The first three innings of the contest were a pitching duel between Petrof and Madyson Watson as the pair of hurlers combined to allow just two hits both of which came off the bats of two Akron players.

During their second time around the order, the Eagles hitters made some adjustments against Petrof in the fourth inning that led to Winthrop taking a 4-0 lead.

After Watson set down six straight Zips, Akron found a rhythm at the plate in the sixth inning and posted three runs to trim the Eagles lead to 4-3 courtesy of the long ball. With a runner on second and one out, Jascoe lifted a two-run home run to left field and was immediately followed by a solo shot to centerfield off the bat of Drapola for her first career dinger.

Winthrop added to its lead (5-3) in the bottom of the sixth and the Zips would leave a runner on the base path in the seventh to fall to the Eagles.

UA is back in action for day two of the Samford Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8, beginning at 10 a.m. CT and again at 3 p.m. CT against Winthrop and tournament host, Samford. All action at the Samford Softball field can be seen live on ESPN3.