Akron Baseball Captures First Win of the Sabo Era; Splits Doubleheader at Marshall

Sunday, March 8

Huntington, WV

11 AM

University of Akron

1-10

Marshall

3-10-1

AKRON

MARSHALL

Akron Baseball Captures First Win of the Sabo Era; Splits Doubleheader at Marshall

March 08 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Follow Akron Baseball on Facebook and Twitter

Game 3 Boxscore
Game 4 Boxscore

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The University of Akron baseball team captured it first win of the season on Sunday afternoon as the Zips split a doubleheader at Marshall at the Kennedy Center.

In game one, Akron (1-11 overall) registered a 7-4 victory. The Thundering Herd (4-11-1 overall) won the nightcap, 18-3.

"It was a great day for our players today, splitting a doubleheader at Marshall," said head coach Chris Sabo. "I'm proud of the team getting the first UA baseball victory since 2015. Hopefully we will continue to improve and more victories will come."

In the opener, Akron battled for two runs on two outs. Junior CF Brenton Phillips (Albany, Ga.) was the first to cross the plate after he doubled and was brought home by 1B Cameron Tilly (Canberra Australia), who singled to right field. Junior DH Josh Nellis (Williamsburg, Va.) doubled, scoring Tilly, as the Zips jumped ahead 2-0.

Marshall scored one run in the bottom of the second.

The Zips added a single run in the fourth. Junior LF Dominick Trevino (Edmond, Okla.) singled to right field, bringing Nellis home, who reached on an error.

In the fifth, UA added another run. With two outs, junior RF Bryant Shellenbarger (Mount Vernon, Ohio) reached on an error, scoring Phillips, who walked. The Zips led 4-1.

Marshall scored one run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the eight, junior pinch runner Austin Domer (Orrville, Ohio) scored, giving UA a 5-2 edge.

Marshall responded with two additional runs in the bottom of the eighth.

In the final inning, Akron added two runs. With two outs, Phillips homered to right field for both RBI, scoring freshman C Daniel Johnson (Gilbert, Ariz.), who walked.

In the bottom of the ninth, junior LHP Matthew Radka (Uniontown, Ohio) faced three batters, and the Zips sealed their first victory on a double play to end the game.

Junior righty Taed Heydinger (Bayfield, Colo.) started the game for the Zips and captured the win (1-2 overall). He hurled 7.1 innings, striking out two and walking one. Radka earned the save, throwing 1.2 innings with two strikeouts.

Marshall utilized four pitchers, combining for five strikeouts and eight walks.

The Zips registered eight hits compared to Marshall's six. The Herd had two fielding errors, while Akron had none.

In game two, Akron quickly scored two runs in the first inning. Junior Bradley Goulet (Cottage Grove, Minn.), who reached on a single to left, crossed the plate first after Phillips singled to left. Junior 3B Tate Wargo (Benld, Ill.), who bunted, scored the second run Tilly reached on a fielder's choice.

UA's lead was short-lived as Marshall responded with nine runs on big hits in bottom of the second inning.

The Herd added a run in the third and fourth to go ahead 11-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Marshall added three runs. The Herd scored four runs on a grand slam by SS Geordon Blanton in the bottom of the sixth to take a 18-2 advantage.

Akron scored one last run in the top of the eighth as Phillips walked with bases loaded, scoring junior C Josh Beck (Ottawa Lake, Mich.).

Following his first start, freshman RHP Logan Bell (Lisbon, Ohio) took the loss (0-1 overall). He threw 1.2 innings, striking out one and walking three. For MU, John Cheatwood got the win. In 5.0 innings of work, he struck out two and walked one.

Marshal out-hit Akron, 17-6. The Zips had two fielding errors, while the Herd had none.

Akron returns home to Skeeles Field on Wednesday, March 11, for a 3 p.m. game with Urbana.