Akron Earns Split in Season-Opening Twinbill

Friday, February 26

Dover, De.

12:00 PM

University of Akron

0-1

Delaware State

1-0

AKRON

Delaware State

February 26 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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GAME ONE BOXSCORE (PDF) | GAME TWO BOXSCORE (PDF) | SATURDAY GAME ONE LIVE STATS | SATURDAY GAME TWO LIVE STATS

DOVER, DEL. - The University of Akron women's softball garnered a split of its season-opening doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 26, as the Zips dropped a 3-1 decision to Delaware State in the opener before collecting a 3-0 triumph in the nightcap.

"We are happy to come out of today 1-1," Akron head coach Meaggan Pettipiece commented. "We definitely found some areas that we need to work on, but it was nice to see us bounce back from a loss in the first game."

Pitching dominated the Zips' efforts on the day as three Akron hurlers combined to strike out 15 Delaware State hitters, including an 11-strikeout performance from freshman P Olivia Stefanoni (Hudson, Ohio) in her collegiate debut in the opener. In the nightcap, freshman P Sheridon Wilber (Rock Creek, Ohio) notched a complete-game shutout for Akron on the strength of three strikeouts.

"The biggest highlight of today was our pitching staff working together, even the girls that didn't get in, were ready the entire day, staying in-tune to the game," said Pettipiece. "I think that is big for us as a team because our pitching staff has done a great job getting ready for this and it showed today."

Redshirt freshman OF Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.) combined to go 5-for-6 at the plate in the doubleheader and scored a pair of runs, while freshman OF Carley Auten (Pickerington, Ohio) was 2-of-3 at the dish in the second game in her collegiate debut.

The opening game proved to be a pitcher's duel as the tilt remained scoreless heading to the bottom of the sixth inning. The Hornets capitalized in the bottom of the frame as a fielder's choice plated the first run of the game, before a two-out, two-run double extended Delaware State's lead to 3-0.

McChesney opened the top of the seventh inning with a bunt single before getting into scoring position with a steal of second base. A groundout advanced her to third before a sacrifice fly off the bat of redshirt freshman OF Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) drove in McChesney with what proved to be Akron's lone run in a 3-1 setback.

"Stefanoni had 12 strikeouts which is phenomenal for a freshman pitcher," explained Pettipiece. "Our bats just never came around and we didn't make adjustments early enough in the first game."

In the second game, the Zips' offense cracked the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to assume a lead they didn't relinquish, while Wilbor kept the Hornets off balance in the circle en route to earning the shutout with a trio of strikeouts.

"That was unexpected for a freshman pitcher to go in and continue to dominate throughout the game," said Pettipiece. "We played great defense behind Sheridon, as she threw a really nice game."

Freshman INF Atlantis Taufa (Fullerton, Calif.) led off the frame with a single before redshirt sophomore OF Morgan Cadmus (Tecumseh, Mich.), who ran for Taufa, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Auten followed with single to left field and took second base on the throw to move a pair of runners into scoring position. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by redshirt freshman INF Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio) drove in a pair of runs to give Akron a 2-0 lead. The Zips were unable to get a two-out base hit to plate a pair of runners from scoring position as the threat was thwarted.

McChesney got Akron off and running in the top of the fifth with a lead-off single before stealing second base. A groundout moved her to third before Taufa collected an RBI with a groundout.

Wilbor responded to the insurance tally as she took only three pitches to deny Delaware State in the bottom of the fifth inning, including a diving stop from freshman INF Madison Dudek (Uniontown, Ohio).

Wilbor and the Zips allowed only one hit in each of the final two innings as Akron earned the 3-0 triumph.

"For everybody it started out as a beautiful day and it wouldn't have mattered what it was like out, everybody just getting back out on the dirt and finding out who we are and that is part of what this preseason is for," Pettipiece commented. "Today we learned a lot about ourselves and moving forward and I think it gave a lot of young players some confidence which is fantastic."

Akron is slated to play St. John's in a 10 a.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 27, before closing weekend action against Delaware State at 2 p.m.